I think some of what we hear right now was reiterated in the skills shortage study we did at this committee last year.
I was at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention this past weekend and the issue of skills training was brought forward there as well, especially with the Ring of Fire coming up in northern Ontario.
Thank you for being here, Mrs. Cayen. We've heard comments today with respect to some of the institutes. Teg Educational Institute in M' is also doing some good work, but the fact is that the financing isn't often there for the programming. When it comes to child care workers as well as teachers in first nations communities, there is a big discrepancy in wages compared to wages off first nations communities.
You mentioned a lot of the challenges and the barriers. We heard over and over again about flexibility being needed. It's really important to take note that it's not about centralizing, that it's about making sure the small communities are going to be recognized. There's the differences from community to community to community. Mrs. Cayen, you actually did speak on that.
You mentioned a database that's there now, Ms. Harris, and that having to absorb the costs of that certainly means less money for the people on the ground to be able to train others.
I'm wondering if you could elaborate on the flexibility that should be in place. Also, what are the pitfalls that we should be avoiding?