We'll call the meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 16 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
Our meeting today is taking place once again in a hybrid format pursuant to the House order of November 25. Members are attending in person and by using Zoom. Those attending in person must follow the health protocols that are currently in place.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of witnesses and members.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. For those participating by video conference, please click on the microphone icon to activate your mike. For those in the room, your microphone will be controlled by the proceedings and verification officer. When you are not speaking, your mike should be on mute.
Members and witnesses may speak in the official language of their choice. Interpretation services are available for this meeting. For those participating by video conference, you have the choice at the bottom of your screen of either the floor, English or French. For those in the room, you can use an earpiece and select the desired channel. If interpretation is lost, please advise me and we will stop the proceedings until it's corrected. As a reminder, all comments should be addressed through the chair.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday, February 3, the committee will resume its study of labour shortages, working conditions and the care economy.
I would like to welcome our first group of witnesses to begin our discussions with five minutes of opening remarks, which will be followed by questions. I would ask the witnesses to please keep your opening comments within the five minutes. If you have additional information, you can always submit it to the committee, and it will be on the record.
Again, I would ask those participating to speak slowly for the benefit of our translation and interpretation services.
From the Atkinson Foundation, we have Armine Yalnizyan; from the Canadian Dental Association, Richard Holden, president, and Aaron Burry, acting chief executive officer; and from the Canadian Mental Health Association, Rebecca Shields, chief executive officer, York and South Simcoe branch.
We will start with the Atkinson Foundation for five minutes.
Madam Yalnizyan, you have the floor.