Thanks so much, Mr. Chair.
Thanks to each and every one of our witnesses for coming forward today. Your testimony is very important. We all hope that you and your families continue to be safe and healthy during this devastating third wave that is sweeping the country.
I'd like to start with you, Mr. Aylward. Thank you so much for coming out today. Thanks to your members for being frontline heroes through the course of this pandemic in a variety of different occupations. You have Public Service Alliance of Canada members who are serving despite the dangers. I think that's one of the elements Canadians will remember—the courage, commitment and dedication of frontline workers, of health care workers, of first responders.
I think Canadians will also continue to be shocked by the profiteering that is taking place during this pandemic—banks with $40 billion of profits, hundreds of billions of dollars in liquidity supports and billionaires with over $80 billion in profits. In the long-term care sector, there was unbelievable profiteering during this time, with executive bonuses, dividends and stock buybacks taking place while people were dying in these homes. Just a few blocks from my home, on the traditional unceded territory of the Qayqayt First Nation and Coast Salish peoples in New Westminster, B.C., is a Revera home where over 30 people died. It was kept quiet for well over a week.
These are the kinds of stories and tragedies that I think Canadians will remember. Is this not a profound wake-up call for how we treat our seniors and the for-profit motive in the long-term care sector that has led to so much devastation and death and tragedy during the course of this pandemic?