Thanks, Mr. Chair.
My first question or questions would be for Ms. Nord. We heard in the last presentation from departmental representatives. They made this statement: “While temporary foreign workers play a critical role in filling jobs in the agricultural, food and fish processing sectors—in fact, 80% work in agriculture—it is important to underscore that they make up only 0.4% of the labour force.” That number caught me. I want to follow up on the questions that Member Ruff and Madame Chabot asked earlier in terms of the temporary foreign worker program.
My question would be around what Madame Chabot spoke to, and that was the modernization plan you referenced earlier. I have been working with sectors—the food and beverage and the agri-food sectors in Hamilton—on the temporary foreign worker program, and we're in uncharted territory here with the pandemic in terms of labour shortages. They're asking for numbers in I think a range that we haven't seen before. I'm anxious to assist them with their requests, but of course we need to find a balance. I think you messaged that in your earlier comments with some of your answers. With your modernization plan, what sectors have you found need the most assistance?
Also, through you, Mr. Chair, how do we find that balance in terms of providing a higher level of support without disadvantaging the broader labour pool that's out there and maybe putting too many eggs in one basket?