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Thank you very much.

I think I'll continue on with Mr. Marcoccia for the balance of the questions here.

With regard to the three fundamental areas, you talked about the specialty pulps, the proprietary specialty fibre, the new things that are coming on stream. You spoke about the R and D innovation. I think you said that less than 5% of the production is here but more than 50% of the innovation is here.

So it's 25%.

Okay, thank you. I was trying to keep up with you, and I obviously didn't do quite so well.

At any rate, we have that kind of a disparity, which is quite significant and in a way is good for us.

Then you talked about PPGTP. I really want to know what that is because you seem to be very excited about it, thinking that it is one of the best things we've ever had the opportunity to present.

Can you touch on those three things?

Okay, and the—

Thank you very much.

It was with respect to the proprietary specialty fibre and the specialty pulps and the new programs that you're in the midst of announcing, versus what's going on with bamboo at the other end of the world, and how their shorter fibres are being produced and what they're being turned into, in terms of fabrics and that sort of thing.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

I think the first question I'll ask is of Iain Macdonald.

You made the statement, with respect to HR and skills, that you very much required to have a properly trained workforce and that you're finding deficiencies in that area moving forward. What do you see the government's role being in this? Is this something you're asking us to consider assisting with, or is there something under way? Would you like to explain what that comment meant?

Thank you very much.

I'm in a limited timeframe, being at the end, so I'd like to get a couple of other questions in.

Ms. Berube, with respect to the comments you've been making with the question you have been given on firefighters, I've been on this now since the beginning of this study, asking the questions about firefighters.

I've been, until very recently, in a municipality for 17 years. Firefighters are of a different opinion from the industry. Recently, in having discussions with the firefighters I find they are much more concerned about the lack of testing, with the toxins, the laminates, the glues, all of those sorts of things. They are not convinced that there has been enough study done about what might be composing that large...what were you calling it when you put them all together? I suppose it's laminating all the wood together by glue, or some such thing.

The firefighters have been of the opinion that the flashpoint in fires is faster with new product. As we're getting away from natural product and into homes now with laminate floors, with nylon carpets, with whatever the products are—the new and innovative stuff—their flashpoints are quicker and the toxins are higher. They are very concerned about that. They are concerned that people are subjected to fire quicker and to toxins quicker, and that they will be too on the job.

What's the process for you to get the approvals to introduce the products and the change in construction? I heard you say that the firefighting industry was involved, but is it the fire marshal? Is it fire chiefs? Do we know who's involved?

It's to change the building code to allow products to be used. Who's involved in that from the firefighting industry?

You can appreciate what we're hearing from firefighters. We like to say it's the firefighters' association or it's the chiefs of the fire departments. Who is sitting at the table when these decisions are being made? I'd love to have that answer, if you ever can find out.

Thank you.

Absolutely, I'd love to ask a question. I'll make it a short one.

Thank you, Minister, for being here. I really appreciate the work that you're doing on behalf of these young women and girls. It's so important, and the fact that you're highlighting it the way you do is just remarkable. I'm commending you for the work that you do.

Concerning the TrustLaw poll that ranks G-20 countries on where it's best to a woman, Canada was number one in 2012. This was the best country to be a woman in. Our government has always prided itself on a society where women and men are equal participants in all aspects of life.

Minister, are there any special projects within that framework that you would like to highlight that brings us to this point?

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and welcome to all of you. Thank you for being here.

I'd like to ask you about some of the funding that the women's program has provided through grants and contributions since the 2007 timeframe. How much funding has been approved to support Canadian women and girls across our country? Second, how are their issues being addressed?

Thank you very much for that.

Can you please explain how the government has designed the women's program to reach specific issues across Canada. I'm not really sure how many and how diverse those issues might be; that's why I'm asking the question. Could you give us some general idea of what is being funded?

We were discussing earlier what has happened to funding since 2007, but for the projects that have been submitted to you since 2011, how are the numbers looking? And have the ones you have received been beneficial for the women's program?

Does that include the STEM programs that have been out there?