Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for making yourself available to our committee.
I just wanted to make a note off the top. I noticed in your remarks the items that your government remains committed to doing, or is going to do in the future. I just want to note, from the last time you were at this committee, that I haven't seen much progress on these items. I think that would even be from the time of the fall economic statement, which is a little discouraging for me and I think seniors across Canada.
First, no doubt we've had this conversation before at committee on personal support workers, care workers. We know that they provide critical care and support for our seniors, and we know it's not an easy job. It's mentally, physically and emotionally taxing on each of them.
We know that this pandemic has underscored the workforce shortage of skilled personal support workers, and in looking to address the workforce shortage, we cannot lose sight of the skills that are needed to deliver quality care to our seniors. We do know, with an aging population and seniors' needs growing and becoming increasingly complex, that the need for PSWs with the right skill set and training is only going to grow.
Therefore, the professionalization of these workers would improve the standard of care for our seniors, among other benefits, and this is a priority for support workers. I know it has come up in my conversations quite regularly with the Canadian Support Workers Association. When Minister Qualtrough was at our committee the previous week, she had indicated that you were in conversations with the sector to create standardized credentials.
I'm just wondering if you can clarify if discussions to standardize personal support worker credentials are ongoing, and if it is the intent to develop nationally recognized credentials.