Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I'd like to begin by thanking the two witnesses for having come to testify before the committee this morning. They've shown us why midwives are important.
On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I'd like to express our solidarity with northern Ontario francophones. Our political party unanimously adopted a motion expressing the House of Commons' concern over the crisis that has shaken the world of Franco-Ontarian post-secondary education. I'll read the motion:
That the House express its concern about the closure of 28 French language programs and the layoff of some 100 professors at Laurentian University in Sudbury;
That it reiterates its solidarity with the Franco-Ontarian community; and
That it recalls the essential role of higher education in French for the vitality of the Franco-Canadian and Acadian communities.
It's an important motion, introduced in the House by the member for La Pointe-de-l'Île.
It's a shocking situation. I'd like to hear what the two witnesses have to say about this, and about how the Laurentian University crisis and the status of the midwifery program are linked.
I'll ask Mr. Fenske to begin, and then Ms. Morgan could continue afterwards.