There are, I think, a couple of issues with respect to incomes. One is inequality and the other is whether or not people on the low end are seeing any increase overall in their standard of living. I think both of them are important.
I guess I would say this: we are investing very heavily when it comes to training that will help people on the low end take advantage of the hot labour market. There is no question that there is concern in the economy right now. Some sectors are being adversely affected. But over the long run, because of demographics, I think a lot of people who are on the low end of the income scale will have opportunities.
In fact, our information shows that Canada is one of the most upwardly mobile countries in the world in terms of people who have a lower standard of living being able to rise up. That said, there is always a portion of the population that really struggles on the low end. My department has suggested that about 650,000 people in the country fit that description. Some of these people are mentally ill. Certainly there are homelessness issues, of course, and addiction issues.
I look forward to this committee producing a report on homelessness and poverty to help guide us on where we should go in the future to address some of those problems.