Thank you.
Local entrepreneurs told me about the difficulties with finding child care spaces as people return to work. I want to remind you that Quebec's family policy model has been held up as an example around the world. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development highlighted the model in its most recent report on social inequalities.
Current research is also unanimous. Quebec's universal low-fee child care system launched 20 years ago has had a tremendous leverage effect on the use of child care services and on the participation rate of mothers with young children. The economist Pierre Fortin came here in 2017 to share the good news. Quebec has become the world champion when it comes to the participation rate of young women, ahead of the Swiss, and the previous leaders, the Swedes.
I understand that we made a different choice in Quebec. However, it worked for us. I want to hear the witnesses' views on this. Clearly, measures taken with regard to children are important for economic recovery. During the pandemic, the mental load of women increased significantly. They had to manage many things at once. I'm thinking of teleworking and having children at home, not to mention health standards. All these things affected their mental load. Many organizations are focusing on this issue.
I want to hear your views on the mental load of women who are now at home.