Thank you.
I want to thank the witnesses for coming to the committee today.
I'm both the status of women critic and the critic for seniors. So you can understand that I'm particularly interested in the issue that you're addressing today. Clearly, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on senior women.
I first want to make one thing clear. There has been a great deal of talk today about national standards. However, health comes under the jurisdiction of Quebec and the provinces. This principle is essential for us. Quebec and the provinces have asked that this jurisdiction be respected. The issue is mainly financial. There's a lack of money to ensure better wages for health care providers and support staff.
The labour shortage issue was also discussed. Some areas of jurisdiction can be addressed. In terms of the labour shortage, there was the situation of the guardian angels and their immigration status. It was acknowledged that some residences lacked personal protective equipment. The federal government could have taken action in these areas.
The financial aspect wasn't discussed. I'd like to hear your views on the importance of proper funding for the health care system. This would ensure that the staff who work with seniors receive better wages and that they have the proper protective equipment.