Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Metcalfe, I'll start with you in terms of some of your recommendations.
You and the other two witnesses have raised some consistent themes here in terms of lack of funding support since 2003. That is some constructive criticism for both governments that have served since that time. I think the recommendations that you, Ms. Tremblay and Ms. Hennessey have provided here today will be consistent themes that we hear from other witnesses.
One thing that I'm looking for from some of the witnesses is recommendations that they might have in mind related to other supports that we could provide, apart from increased scholarship funding and increased financial support for bursaries and fellowships.
I'm looking at housing. You referenced housing twice—once in your opening and once in a response. It's a shared responsibility between all three levels of government. Municipalities, provinces and the federal government have a shared obligation to provide housing supports. To know, as Ms. Hennessey pointed out earlier, that 71% of postgraduate students live below the poverty line.... That is a disturbing figure.
I'm interested in looking at how the federal government can provide financial support through housing incentives or initiatives. Our national housing strategy currently provides funds to universities through the national co-investment fund and the rental construction financing initiative. However, we don't have a specific line for post-secondary institutions in our budget. I think there should be one for the national housing strategy, to assist with the debt that students are taking on.
What are your thoughts on that, in terms of providing other forms of support at the federal level to assist with some of the costs that not just students but all others across the country are experiencing?