Thank you, Chair.
Thanks to you, Minister, right off the top, and to your excellent staff, to department officials, for timely responses to a variety of my requests, comments and complaints regarding issues since the crisis began. Not all of our issues have been resolved, but the accessibility is appreciated.
Minister, your department faces massive process and protocol reconsiderations as a result of the COVID crisis. In the short term, with regard to the seasonal agricultural temporary foreign worker program, Canada needs to find a balance between millions of unemployed Canadians, our workers, and the skilled, experienced TFWs who are essential in some areas of the sector to ensure food production and food security right across the sector.
Last year almost 100,000 temporary foreign workers came to Canada. You've given us the update in the last month of 11,000 with 10,000 approved. We know a good many didn't make it into the country for a variety of reasons, but I'm wondering what the department's estimate is for the total number of foreign workers being able to get to Canada for the rest of the planting, growing and harvest season.