Thank you to both of you for your presentations. I'm delighted that you're here today.
I very much appreciate your comments about all three areas that I think are of importance to us as a committee, looking at the recruitment of apprentices, the retention of apprentices, and of course the placement, ultimately. I have questions on all three, although I suspect time won't allow.
Let me start with the observations you made about employment insurance and the support the apprentices need to be able to continue throughout their program.
I think it was you, Mr. Mills, and I think Mr. Ritter as well, who identified the waiting period as often being a significant challenge for apprentices as they try to make ends meet for their study period in the apprenticeship.
In addressing the waiting period issues with respect to employment insurance, are you suggesting there ought to be a special program designed for apprentices, or is the waiting period an issue that actually is the same for all workers who are on EI, trying to access their benefits?