Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
My thanks to the witnesses for joining us today. I thank them for the important work that they are doing on this program, which has a very real impact on the lives of not only businesses but also some workers.
My colleague Mr. Cuzner did a good job of summarizing the history of the past 10 years. The previous government had two very different approaches to the issue. At the outset, we felt that the seal of approval was automatically applied to all applications, which resulted in an explosion in the number of temporary foreign workers. This worried many workers in Canada and Quebec.
We heard the absurd example of mines, where the ability to speak Mandarin was a requirement to get a job in the sector. There were also temporary foreign workers in the banking sector or in Tim Hortons franchises. That shocked a lot of people at the time. I don't understand, because the previous prime minister was very fond of Tim Hortons.
I know there are fewer temporary foreign workers right now. However, I still have concerns about what you're telling us. In your view, there are no guarantees that foreign workers will be used as a last resort. In addition, it is difficult to determine whether there is a true labour shortage. Furthermore, recruitment efforts are often not made in adjoining communities.
I understand that our economy and some businesses need those temporary foreign workers. However, our responsibility is to provide work for Canadians first and foremost. As I understand it, the problem as a whole is not solved.