Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm sorry that I'm not there in person today, but I am quite grateful for the opportunity to join you online.
Thank you to all of the witnesses. I really appreciate what you have been able to bring to this pre-budget session.
I'll begin with you, Ms. Nugent. I'm sorry that, because of the technical difficulties, we can't hear your responses to the questions today, but I do appreciate that you're going to follow through.
I want to note that Oceans North is involved in very important research in Atlantic Canada. Of course, I'm coming to you from St. John's East. It is alarming for me to note that this past summer, in August in particular, we saw the highest temperatures recorded in the Grand Banks, which you may know and the others in the room may or may not know is a significant fishery ground, an important part of the marine ecosystem.
Clearly, Ocean North, Ms. Nugent, has done tremendous work on strengthening the link between ocean and climate. Would you respond to the committee on the importance of climate change data in fisheries management? That I would appreciate, and I look forward to that response.
I'll switch now to Mr. Mertins-Kirkwood on child care.
I'm also pleased to note that Newfoundland and Labrador—even though, population-wise, we're quite small—has been able to reach the target of $10-a-day child care two years ahead of schedule. I think that's quite important to note. Even with that significant accomplishment, obviously there are still challenges in this province and, I believe, across the country in child care, through a lack of both infrastructure and workforce. I believe that compensation is an important part of recruitment and retention within the sector.
Could you speak to the provinces and territories that are moving forward on compensation, specifically wages, for early childhood educators? Apart from the wages, what are some of the other challenges that provinces and territories are encountering in being able to ensure that the needs within the provinces and territories meet the demand for child care spaces?
Thank you.