Human Resources Committee on Sept. 28th, 2017

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

I have just one quick question, and then I'll share my time with my colleagues.

Madam Fortier mentioned the importance of seniors. The majority of us on the committee acknowledge the very strong importance of taking care of our aging population. The audit deals with that narrow period of time from 2013 up to 2016. There was one major policy change in that period of time. However, we need to seriously look at any future policy changes to make sure we have access for seniors to be able to age in place, which is home care.

That is my comment.

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond Centre, BC]

I have only one question. It is about visas. Very often, because of the aging population, some of my constituents have come to me and said they have all the labour market approvals, yet when they applied for them to come over as temporary foreign workers they got stuck because Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada did not process them fast enough. That is happening now.

I know it is not in your capacity to actually audit that, but do you believe that is a missing link, that in looking at this whole temporary foreign worker program we need to look at that side as well, bringing them over to Canada?

[Michael Ferguson]

I think one of the things about the temporary foreign worker program is that a number of the issues it has to deal with are also perhaps issues that are not of the direct making of the program necessarily. I don't know about the processing of the visas. That is not what we looked at, but certainly there was an issue of people being on EI.

I think we say in the audit report that Canadians who were working in the fish plant, quite frankly, wanted to be laid off and on EI for a certain part of the year, so that makes it difficult for the temporary foreign worker program. They were not matching up workers from under-represented groups to these jobs, so why are those workers in under-represented groups not prepared for the workforce to do those jobs?

There's the issue of their knowing they're at risk, that the program is being used more for family reunification than an actual job need. There are a number of things the temporary foreign worker program tries to deal with. Some of them are indications of issues that may exist in other programs, or broader programs.

Again, we did not look at the visa issue, but when you look at some of the problems that the temporary foreign worker is dealing with, some of them are also dealing with issues from other programs as well.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Thank you very much. Those are all the questions we had.

Mr. Ferguson, thank you very much for your excellent report. I note that the measures implemented by the Conservative government helped reduce the number of temporary foreign workers, and I am pleased with that.

Of course, I commend the committee for its work, which has produced a very good report under your leadership, Mr. Chairman. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the committee's work.

There is, nonetheless, a threat to the ability of businesses to hire staff, be they Canadian or foreign workers. The tax increases proposed by the government are a sword of Damocles.

That is why I would like to propose, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), that the committee immediately undertake a study of at least four meetings on the proposed changes to the tax system...

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Excuse me, I have to jump in. I do apologize, but I will have to object to the time that this was submitted. The 48 hours has not passed.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

So my motion cannot be debated today. Can I introduce it all the same?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

I'm sorry.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Can I introduce my motion today, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

It has been introduced and it will be received at the next meeting.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Okay, good. We'll bring it up at the next meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Yes. Thank you.

You do have more time.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

I'm good.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

All right. Not seeing anyone else's name on the list and I think everyone has had an opportunity to speak, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank both of you, Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Wheeler, for enlightening us on the temporary foreign worker program and the work that you've done. I want to thank you on behalf of the committee for joining us here today.

I'd like to thank my colleagues on all sides, as well as our new clerk, who did a fantastic job, our analysts, the translators who, as always, help us understand each other, and the technical people who make us look so good.

Thank you very much everybody.

The meeting is adjourned.