Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you to all of the witnesses on three very distinct and very important topics today, all of them important to the work of this committee.
I would like to spend my time with Ms. Melikidze.
You wrote a piece entitled “Rethinking Express Entry for economic growth”. I'd like to quote from the article:
One of the most significant shifts in Canada's Express Entry system is the quiet abandonment of the STEM category despite its central role in Canada's innovation economy and long-term productivity. No STEM draws have been held since April 2024, and IRCC has given no indication [when] they will resume.
I wonder if you could give us some insight as to why you think the STEM category for the express entry system was removed. Do you have some insight into why that was removed at a time when there are well-documented shortages in many of the disciplines in that STEM category?