Mr. Christopher Smillie at the Government Operations and Estimates Committee

On November 17th, 2009. See this statement in context.

November 17th, 2009 / 4:15 p.m.

Policy Analyst, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Canadian Office

Christopher Smillie

Mr. Martin, I spoke with one of my contractor partners in Alberta who brings in temporary foreign workers from country Y. The average cost to bring that worker to Canada, lodge him, and then send him back is about $15,000.

The cost of using an American worker would be much less, around $5,000 per worker. If we could bring in American workers, it would definitely appeal to my contractor's bottom-line mentality.

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