Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As I said, our selection and admissions process favours applicants who come from northern Ontario or from similar northern, remote, rural, indigenous and francophone backgrounds. Indigenous applicants have a boost, shall we say, in being considered. Having said that, we don't have set-aside places for indigenous students.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll tell you one story, if I may. There's a place called Chapleau, which is in the central part of northern Ontario. It's two hours from anywhere—quite remote. It's a microcosm of Canada, really: 50% of the population is French-speaking, with three first nations nearby. Chapleau went for nearly seven years without a permanent doctor.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  —and in particular with the remote rural workforce stability framework. Thank you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Madam Chair and members of the committee. I'm Roger Strasser, dean and CEO of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. It is my pleasure to share with you NOSM's experience in improving the recruitment and retention of health care professionals in rural, remote and indigenous communities.