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Thank you very much, Chair.

I want to thank our witnesses for their contributions today. As a mother of four young children where child care is an issue, I have lived it and not been able to access it. It is very frustrating, because I'm just one drop in the bucket of the parents who can't access it.

I believe that all parents should have access to affordable child care, but also high-quality care. That matters as well. We have to recognize that there is limited access right now. I believe this bill is picking winners and losers, and it is going to hinder access even more.

I come from a rural community. I represent communities that don't have public child care and don't have not-for-profit care. What happens in those situations when they don't have access to funding to expand? Some of these small communities are growing, because it's more affordable to live in a smaller community as opposed to an urban area. What happens to those children and to those parents if they already have limited access, but maybe their child care provider in that community, or a community farther over, doesn't fall under what the government of the day thinks is important?

Ms. Ballantyne, with regard to access in communities like the ones I've listed that don't have public or not-for-profit care, is it your suggestion that if there is a private day care it should be excluded?

Do you believe that the parent is the best person to decide what type of care their child receives when they are working or unavailable?

We have heard a lot about the labour shortage. I've spoken to lots of teachers as well who are finding it difficult, even in classrooms, just with anxiety and depression. A lot of our youth are struggling with mental health and behaviour issues, and that type of thing. Is any of that discussed in this research that is being referenced? Are any of those types of issues that these child care providers are facing reasons they may be leaving the profession?

I just have one quick thing, Chair.

Can you please table for the committee this research and data you keep referring to?

That's wonderful. Thank you.

Not on supplementary [Inaudible—Editor]

Thank you very much, Chair.

I think there are other ways this committee can be more responsible with time, like doing scheduling and planning in a subcommittee. There are other areas that can be trimmed.

Through you, Chair, to Mr. Long, as opposed to skirting ministerial accountability, at minimum.... These are the main estimates. I don't see why we can't have time with the appropriate ministers on something that is specific to the main estimates.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Through you, to Ms. Gazan, the priority is government legislation, so that would happen anyway. This is just putting it on our working calendar, and it's a way for us to keep the Liberal ministers accountable for what they have in supplementary and main estimates.

I have a point of order—

Thank you so much, Chair.

I just would like to challenge you on your interpretation here. I agree that we can't all be talking at once. I struggle with that a bit myself, so I apologize.

That said, it is the member who has the floor to ask the questions and determine when they're ready to go to another question. I believe that's the case. Can you just quickly clarify that?

No, nor to determine the time for the member to ask the number of questions they want to ask.

That's a judgment you're making, when it's up to the member to determine when they want to move on to another question and do it appropriately.

Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for being here. I look forward to meeting with the others who are here in the next hour.

Lifemark and WCG were given this contract for the rehabilitation program. Their requirement was to create a rehabilitation service plan unique to each veteran participating. It could include a combination of one or more medical, psychosocial and/or vocational rehabilitation interventions involving six key function areas: mental and physical functioning, social adjustment, financial security, employment and personal productivity, family relationships and community participation. It's the whole gamut there, Minister.

I just have a question in regard to the way the program is being implemented. The first year and half is an implementation period. I assume that time has passed. I'm just wondering how much funding, out of the $560 million, Lifemark and WCG have received to date. That's a 30-second question. I have three altogether. The last one, I think, you'll want to spend more time on. Do you know the amount?

Okay. I will ask him later. That's fine. Are you not aware, Minister?

Okay. That's fine. That's great. Thank you.

On the $560 million then, I would assume you're not aware of the dynamics between those two companies and how much is being released in what way to each of those organizations.