Thank you very much.
Minister, it's great to see you. We did miss you last week, but I know miscommunications happen.
First of all, I just want to get it on record that at least the official opposition is not opposed to temporary foreign workers. What we do have some concern about is the process, some of the grantings of the LMOs that have occurred, and the categories of people who are coming in. We also have a great deal of concern around the need for training to grow the skill sets here among our youth and among those who are not so young as well.
Today I want to expand a little bit on the problems we are seeing with the temporary foreign workers.
Three years ago, the Auditor General identified some serious problems with this program, and the immigration committee also studied the problems and made a number of recommendations. Despite years given to fixing it, the program still appears to be a mess. Mismanagement of this program has put jobs for Canadian workers at risk on one hand, and in the case of the video game industry it also not responding adequately to the needs of businesses.
In 2009 the Auditor General recommended that CIC and HRSDC implement better mechanisms to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the temporary foreign worker program. The departments responded in agreement and suggested that such mechanisms were already being implemented. However, recent events in B.C. regarding HD Mining have again called into question the integrity of the program, and a review of the program has been announced.
Minister, do you think it's time to call back the Auditor General to look at how or if the recommendation have been implemented? As well, have you considered asking the AG to conduct an independent review of the temporary foreign worker program?