Yes, that's correct. What we find—and as far as I'm aware, this does exist in one of the provinces across Canada now—is that when the individuals come in on NOC level C, which is low-skilled worker, temporary foreign worker program, they are able to obtain their work permit immediately, obviously at the port of entry, upon coming to Canada. The spouse, especially in the long-haul trucking industry, has to sit in the apartment with the children, unable to work, while the husband is away on the road for five to seven days at a time.
Allowing spouses to obtain a work permit, an open work permit, at the time of entry for the same time period as their spouse's work permit would not only increase retention rates within the area, but decrease turnover rates because of frustrations and because of the cost of moving to Canada. It would also put more tax dollars into the system, with one more person in the household earning money, paying tax dollars and having more disposable income in the household.