Thank you very much.
Thank you to the committee for inviting us here today. We're delighted to return.
As you know, when you first met, we were one of the very first groups you called upon for advice in your deliberations, because of course of the quality of our research and its stellar contribution to thinking in Canada about these important issues.
I just wanted to say how vital it is for governments at all levels to have good information and good policy advice, speaking as someone who has worked in governments as well as taught in the policy arena and now is the head of a think tank. In Canada we spend a great deal of money in the areas of social policy—on education, on student supports, on loans, on welfare benefits, on children's benefits—and it is very important I think for all of us to understand what the best outcome and the best effect of these billions and billions of dollars of Canadian taxpayers' money that are spent are. We like to say it's important to think before you act, and to do your research and have a very steady stream of knowledge that helps to inform decisions.
Right now, we are serving a number of different provinces in providing this function. We are also serving the federal government, and we will continue to do so. We provide good quality advice on the best inputs and ways and mechanisms of ensuring that Canada is making the right decisions for its people.
CPRN is unique in Canada in that not only do we take our evidence--credible research that has been pulled together--but we work directly with Canadian citizens to ask them for their opinions about the choices that need to be made in very controversial public policy areas. This unique opportunity to bring together citizens from across this country and to have them tell us and tell you about the Canada they want is really an important contribution, particularly for ministers who are having to make difficult choices.
As you know, Canadians don't always believe the evidence that's put in front of them, but they certainly know what they want you to do. We are a remarkable people, and that is I think a great opportunity to assure that Canadians are directly involved in some of these public policy issues.
That unique advantage is something that governments have valued very directly because in fact this is where the money is being spent by governments in social policy. Having that opportunity to have a neutral, non-partisan, third-party public space for dialogue and inviting Canadians from all walks of life to make comment here means in fact that you have the best advice possible.
The job of CPRN has really been to lead public debate on social and economic issues and to ensure that there are very innovative approaches available to us as Canadians to continue to provide the kinds of services that make Canada extremely productive.
Recently, we were here to testify before you on the situation of vulnerable workers in Canada. We found that more than half of the vulnerable workers in Canada lacked literacy levels that were important to ensure future productivity. This is good information that allows us, then, as Canadians, to determine what the next steps should be, what programs and policies should be put in place to assist Canadians to raise productivity levels so that we are all able to enjoy a sense of prosperity and inclusiveness in our country.
Having said that, I want you to know that we will continue, as an organization. It is going to be very difficult. It will significantly reduce our capacity to make the kind of contribution that we have made in the past. I think that overall it is an important function of government to ensure that this kind of relevant, credible, neutral, non-partisan advice is available, because truth only stands up when it's been battled. When you have that opportunity to come at it from all sides, then I think that you have a very robust piece of advice that is allowed.
I want to thank the members of the committee very much for the opportunity to be here today, and I look forward to your questions.