Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and distinguished members of the committee. On behalf of the department, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.
My name is Alexis Conrad, and I am the director general of the horizontal management and integration directorate of the skills and employment branch. I have with me today Catherine Scott, from the labour market integration directorate, and Yves Gingras, from the economic policy directorate at the strategic policy and research branch.
HRSDC was pleased to appear at the beginning of your study on March 12. At that time, my colleagues provided details on HRSDC's programming and how it helps to address skill shortages, including those in high-demand occupations. I know that since then you have heard testimony from a wide variety of stakeholders and are currently completing your study. Hopefully, our presentation and the discussion following will help you finalize your work, and we look forward to seeing your report.
As you know, the Canadian economy is undergoing important structural changes. We are witnessing the growth and decline of various industries and sectors.