I'd like to build on what Kim had to say. It is important not only to fairly compensate midwives, but also to integrate midwifery into the health care system. Otherwise, we will see situations like we see in some of the provinces and territories that are using the employment model, where there's complete stagnation in growth. We are asking impossible things of the provinces and territories where there are four midwives. Those midwives are expected to practise clinically and represent midwifery in regulation, in associations, at all of the committees and in research. It's an unacceptable burden to put on a small group of health care providers.
The Canadian Association of Midwives has identified, as one of our three key pillars, focusing our efforts on strengthening midwifery professional associations. We've had huge success with this and being able to impact the health rights and well-being of women and girls in our association-strengthening work abroad. However, we do not currently have the funding to provide those same supports to see that midwifery is integrated and midwives are put in positions of leadership here at home in Canada. We would like to see a partnership that provides midwifery capacity building to associations in the provinces and territories and to the National Aboriginal Council of Midwives so we can do the capacity building and create a more sustainable system.