Thank you, Chair.
Ms. Nash, I have to say, I feel your pain, but I've got to tell you, this legislative amendment proposes to remove the burden for employers to prepare an employment equity plan under the FCP. Organizations winning federal contracts will still be required to meet their obligations with respect to employment equity, but this obligation will be made purely contractual and stipulated in contractual documents to be signed between the government and the employers winning the federal contracts.
Modernizing, of course, the operation of the federal contractors program will reduce the administrative burden on small and medium-sized businesses, and was a key recommendation of the red tape reduction commission.
I'd like to ask Mr. Child or Ms. Buchanan if they could speak to the fact that this will remove a lot of the administrative burden on small and medium-sized business so they can focus on job creation and long-term growth as opposed to being concerned about paperwork and meeting legislative criteria.