It being 3:30, I will call the meeting to order and welcome our witnesses.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), this committee is doing a study on increasing the participation of women in non-traditional occupations. We have been hearing many witnesses from many different non-traditional occupations, who have been telling us what those challenges are and ways they recommend we can overcome those challenges.
Today we have four groups: the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association, Engineers Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Women in Mining Canada.
Just for the witnesses' information, there are ten minutes for each group to present. So with four groups, there will be forty minutes of presentations. You may decide among yourselves who will speak during that ten minutes: you can share the time or one person may be the spokesperson. After that, we have questions and answers. During the question period, everyone may be able to participate as you see fit, if you have further information that you need to give us. We are always short of time in getting get through the rounds of questions and answers.
We will start with the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association. We have Ms. Palmer Nelson, the president elect, and Judy Lux, a communications specialist in health policy. From Engineers Canada, we have Marie Carter, the chief operating officer, and Gabriela Del Toro, manager of research and diversity. Then we have the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with Louise LaFrance and Suzanne Babisky. Finally, we have Women in Mining, represented by Mary Ann Mihychuk.
We'll begin with the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.