Human Resources Committee on May 8th, 2020

[Philippe Massé]

We can certainly look at some of the research that was done, and there were certainly studies around the impact of the TFW program in the fishing sector and the agriculture sector, and we can share those studies with you. We know that Atlantic Canada, in particular, New Brunswick, makes up a half of the TFWs who come to work in the fish processing and seafood sector, so we understand that's a big loss for that jurisdiction.

We're working with employers and we'll work with the province on looking at alternate solutions, of course, in the context of the decision that was made, including supporting access to domestic labour. There's obviously a recognition that there's a loss of experienced workers in this country in that sector. We can share some of the studies that we have available.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Thank you.

Would either department conduct an impact analysis of the ban? Is that something you would look at, just so that we have information with respect to that? There's a lot of debate certainly in southern New Brunswick and across the province. We're hearing from industry, from farmers and from people in the forestry sector that there is a major economic impact to the ban. I'm just wondering if you will be conducting a lot more analysis, with the premier's decision.

[Catrina Tapley]

We won’t be conducting an economic impact analysis on the sector from the premier's decision.

I'll turn it over to Mr. Massé.

[Philippe Massé]

Yes, I agree. I think there will be an opportunity to look at the impact of this whole COVID situation on the program and what that means going forward. We'll be turning to those impacts very soon. There are a lot of lessons to be learned in terms of the adjustments that we're going through now. It will be part of the agenda for sure.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Thank you.

I don't know how much time I have left. If I do have time left, it's certainly—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

You have less than a minute, Mr. Long.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Okay. I'll pass. I'm good.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Long.

Ms. Chabot, you have six minutes.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good afternoon to the witnesses. Thank you for being here.

I would like to use some of my time to move a motion that I duly tabled with the committee on Wednesday, May 6. You all received that motion, dear colleagues. The motion, that I hope you will accept, proposes that we invite the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry to answer our questions about COVID-19 and its impact on workers, particularly with regard to pension plans.

I am moving this motion because it was impossible to get any answers from Employment and Social Development Canada at the last meeting. As you have all read, today is a black Friday. Two million jobs were lost in the month of April alone. We all know the impact that has on workers. It is already being announced that many businesses in some large industrial sectors will be placing themselves under the protection of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act or protecting themselves from their creditors. It is absolutely urgent that the committee hear from the minister to determine the impact that the situation could have on workers' pension plans.

Thank you for supporting this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Ms. Chabot.

Ms. Chabot presented a notice of motion, even though it was not strictly necessary since the motion was in order under the Standing Orders. I can now listen to or accept other proposals.

Would anyone like to speak to the motion?

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

No one would, Mr. Chair.

It is therefore my understanding that I have my colleague's permission to continue with questions. Is that correct?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Yes, you have the floor.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

I would like to come back to the issue of temporary foreign workers in the agricultural industry. From the beginning of the crisis, we have seen—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

I'm sorry, Ms. Normandin. We need to vote on the motion now if no one else wants to speak to it. You will not lose your speaking time.

(Motion negatived: nays 8; yeas 3)

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Ms. Normandin, you have the floor.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you very much.

From the beginning of the crisis, work has slowed down at some embassies, including those in Guatemala and Peru, which has led to delays in processing visa and work permit applications for temporary foreign workers, particularly in the agricultural industry.

Despite all that, workers whose visas had been processed but not yet affixed to their passports were able to get on flights at the last minute. Small measures were put in place to speed things up.

However, for a long time now, farmers have been calling for the faster processing of applications of workers who come back year after year. Such a measure would have made it possible to fast-track the processing of applications and to put less pressure on embassies abroad from the start.

Ms. Tapley, I would like to hear your thoughts on the possibility of fast-tracking the applications of temporary foreign workers who come back year after year and who meet the criteria each year.

[Catrina Tapley]

We have a pretty expedited process when it comes to seasonal agricultural workers, particularly in Mexico, where a number of them come from. We quickly put in place a number of workarounds to deal with this situation. In both Jamaica and Guatemala, we've looked at foil-less visas to be able to go in a passport.

The reality, however, is that for those who've been here and who we see as a trusted partner in this organization, we do expedite those visas very quickly, and we will do. As the minister mentioned, 10,961 individuals are ready to travel. Those visas have been processed and they're ready to go. We have another 4,100 and change. We're in the process of bringing those applications forward and processing them.

Our times for processing applications right now are diminished, are reduced, and we're quite pleased about that and being able to bring this forward. We're pushing as hard as we can with our colleagues at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, and Global Affairs to make sure that we can bring workers here as quickly as we can.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you very much.

Right now, 85% or 90% of foreign workers have arrived for the planting season. However, farmers are worried that there will be a shortage of workers in the fall because many crops must be harvested manually.

What measures have been put in place by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration and the Department of Employment and Social Development to ensure that there will not be a shortage of workers in the fall?

[Catrina Tapley]

We continue to wait for additional applications to come in. This would be the normal process in terms of when those applications would come in. We continue to look at our capacity to do this and to be able to move those applications forward as quickly as we can. I'm quite pleased about what we've been able to do to date.

Mr. Massé.

[Philippe Massé]

Good afternoon.

Thank you for your question, Ms. Normandin.

The process is already well under way at the Department of Employment and Social Development. Most employers already have the necessary approval. That is already in place. For those who do not, we are giving their files priority and using an expedited process.

We are in constant communication with the employers and the source countries to see how we can facilitate the process and ensure that connections are made. We are working with several levels of government. We want to do everything we can to help. We are on the right track and we hope that will continue.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Chair, how much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

You have one minute left.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Right now the border is closed, but it will gradually reopen at some point and irregular migrants will once again become an issue.

Have you already come up with an action plan for the reopening of the border based on the Canada-U.S. safe third country agreement?

[Catrina Tapley]

Thank you for that question.

As you know, the safe third country agreement continues to apply at ports of entry, and we've seen a number of individuals come through who have met exemptions to the safe third country agreement. Others have been turned back, as is the agreement with the U.S. For now, these arrangements remain in place with the United States, including the arrangement of what to do between ports of entry at the land border. We continue to examine the situation and how this will work in the future.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Ms. Normandin.

Thank you, Ms. Tapley.

Next we have Ms. Kwan, please, for six minutes.