Evidence of meeting #36 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was employers.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Christopher Worswick  Professor, Department of Economics, Carleton University, As an Individual
Martin Lavoie  Director, Manufacturing Competitiveness and Innovation Policy, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
Matthew McGuire  Chair, Anti-Money Laundering Committee, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada
Fred Webber  President and Chief Executive Officer, Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation
Guy Parent  Veterans Ombudsman, Chief Warrant Officer (Retired), Office of the Veterans Ombudsman
Sandra Nelson  As an Individual
John McAvity  Executive Director, Canadian Museums Association
Gregory Thomas  Federal Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Blair Campbell  General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, PEI Mutual Insurance Company
Sean Reid  Vice-President, Federal and Ontario, Progressive Contractors Association of Canada
Shaunna Jennison-Yung  As an Individual

5:25 p.m.

Shaunna Jennison-Yung As an Individual

No.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Who is currently working at the restaurant: Canadian residents or citizens, or temporary foreign workers with LMOs? You'll have to give more than a yes or no on this one.

5:25 p.m.

As an Individual

Shaunna Jennison-Yung

There are three Canadians part-time, we believe, and the rest who are employed there are—

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

How many make up the rest?

5:25 p.m.

As an Individual

Shaunna Jennison-Yung

There would be six, I believe. They're either on contract or landed immigrant.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Thank you.

Have you heard from the minister or his office by phone?

5:25 p.m.

As an Individual

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Have you received anything personally, in writing, from the minister's office?

5:25 p.m.

As an Individual

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Did you receive a form letter from the Department of Employment and Social Development stating that ESDC takes the integrity of the temporary foreign worker program seriously and will not tolerate any abuse of the program?

5:25 p.m.

As an Individual

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Thank you.

Would you suggest that the fact the government has done absolutely nothing about the abuse you reported well over a month ago, a story that was splashed on the front pages of newspapers and covered by almost every visual media outlet as well, the government is tolerating abuse of the program?

5:25 p.m.

As an Individual

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

If you could ask anything or say something to the Minister of Employment and Social Development if he were sitting here—I'm sure he will get this message—or if you got to meet him face to face, what would you want him to know, or what question would you want answered?

5:25 p.m.

As an Individual

Shaunna Jennison-Yung

There's one question we want answered: where's our investigation, and can you explain to us how this is right, how this is not wrong, by your guidelines set out for this program?

5:25 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

What I'm gathering from you is that you warned the government about this employer, yet the status quo remains at that restaurant. I find that actually quite heart-wrenching. You're seeing, in the place where you worked, other people working there when you are not. It's really heartbreaking. You were good employees. Both of you had been there for a long, long time. You took a big risk in coming forward with this story, a big risk, and I want to thank you for it.

Can you tell me what your job prospects have looked like since you very bravely came forward on this?

5:25 p.m.

As an Individual

Shaunna Jennison-Yung

I was offered a job in another establishment, but the offer was rescinded due to the fact that they employ foreign workers. I am obviously not wanted in that respect.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Just to be clear, you were offered a job by this other place.

5:30 p.m.

As an Individual

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

They then rescinded the offer because they said they had temporary foreign workers on site.

5:30 p.m.

As an Individual

Shaunna Jennison-Yung

Not in so many words, but they made it obvious that the offer was not there anymore.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Thank you very much.

Recently the CEO of McDonald's gave a response to the news story that its franchises turn away Canadian applicants to bring in cheaper foreign labour.

Your colleague actually talked about a situation that describes that. You've seen that happen. You've seen how it's treated.

This is what the CEO had to say:

“This has been an attack on our brand. This has been an attack on our system. This is an attack on our people. It's bull....I used those words when I described my conversation with the minister last week. He gets it.”

The story goes on:

Betts says he was “incredibly impressed” with the minister, adding, “He really knows his stuff. And I'll say he knows his stuff from a business person’s perspective.”

“Yes, they are disenfranchised. Some of them don’t work for us anymore. But in the scheme of things, it doesn’t matter.”

“This story has been brewing for a lot of years. And you know at the end of the day we just happen to be the business that got tapped into it and we weren’t the first....”

After your experience, what does hearing comments like that feel like?

5:30 p.m.

As an Individual

Shaunna Jennison-Yung

It doesn't give us a whole lot of confidence. It took a lot of thinking and courage to finally come out and do what we did, not just for ourselves, but for all Canadians who find themselves in this position.

We are very disappointed that we're not worth the time or the effort of this government to stand behind their words, get this investigation going, and stand up for us.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Once again, let me tell you that your heart-wrenching story has touched Canadians.

5:30 p.m.

As an Individual