Thank you.
Absolutely, it is part of my recommendation. We are a very strong advocate for paid internships. We believe that the enforcement of the Employment Standards Act is the right thing to do to prevent the exploitation of youth. We've gone on record as saying that.
We believe that this is the responsibility of three players: the government needs to safeguard young people's rights and ensure fair and equal access to career-launching opportunities; the employers absolutely need to invest in our future by ensuring that young people receive the experience they need to grow and become tomorrow's leaders; and young people themselves have the responsibility to educate themselves on their rights and to make informed decisions in investing in their careers and futures.
We believe that paid internships fast-track young professionals to full-time employment. The statistics I've quoted prove that, in terms of our history.
We also believe that unpaid internships restrict opportunities—and this is key—to certain socio-economic classes. Only those who can afford to work without pay have the opportunity to get experience this way. Those who cannot afford it end up taking survival jobs and are underemployed. That is something that's really important to keep in mind as you deliberate.