Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister and your associates, for coming here.
I would like to set the record straight first, as the Conservative member was saying that the Liberals have done nothing. In fact, in 2005 the Liberals committed $263 million for the internationally trained workers initiative: $68 million, foreign credentials; $75 million, foreign-trained nurses and doctors; $20 million, language training; $100 million going to “Canada Portal”.
In fact, Minister, in the last two years I had the opportunity to go to the businesses. The issue of foreign-trained workers is not an issue of immigrants. It is becoming an issue of our businesses across Canada. Your department and your party long ago knew that a centralized agency was unworkable. You have seen many witnesses coming to this committee and telling the committee members again and again that such an agency will not work in this situation. Can you honestly tell me that your party did not know that this agency will not work?