National Defence committee  Thank you. Good morning, members of the standing committee. It's my pleasure to represent the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, along with my colleague Nick McCarthy. Thank you for the invitation to share information about the role of occupational therapy in supporting transitions of Canadian Armed Forces and veterans personnel.

Health committee  I can't tell you specifically, but I know that in remote communities there are more shortages of occupational therapists. If I may also address the field work issues, that is a big problem for us. There are not enough field work placements. Where there are field work placements, there are often difficulties with affiliation agreements or with insurance issues.

Health committee  We work in so many different areas that it's difficult to answer that question quickly. Basically occupational therapists help to enhance an ability to take part in daily activities of life. They help people be more independent in their self-care, in the way they look after themselves in the work they need to do or in leisure.

Health committee  I want to add that we have realized, through the services we've been offering to internationally educated occupational therapists, that to try to talk to people offshore before they come here is in fact a great advantage. A lot of people are coming here. It's taking them far longer than they ever anticipated to transition into practice.

Health committee  Certainly, yes. There are beginning to be small breakthroughs. In Ontario now we've just been included on family health teams, which is a big breakthrough. We know from experience and research that by introducing occupational therapy into interdisciplinary teams, as has been pointed out by other members here, you can produce a more satisfactory service in a more cost-effective manner.

Health committee  Good morning, and thank you for this opportunity to contribute to your committee's study on human health resources. My name is Elizabeth Steggles, and I'm an assistant professor at McMaster University. Today I'm here to represent my profession and my association, which is the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.