Citizenship and Immigration Committee on April 1st, 2008

Evidence of meeting #19 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was alberta.

On the agenda

Undocumented and Temporary Foreign Workers
Immigration Consultants

MPs speaking

Norman Doyle
Jim Karygiannis
Andrew Telegdi
Thierry St-Cyr
Olivia Chow
Ed Komarnicki
Colleen Beaumier
Robert Carrier
Nina Grewal

Also speaking

Jim Gurnett  Director, Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers
Yessy Byl  Temporary Foreign Worker Advocate, Alberta Federation of Labour
Bill Diachuk  President, Edmonton, Ukrainian Canadian Social Services
Miles Kliner  General Manager, Sunterra Meats - Innisfail
Trevor Mahl  President, TC Hunter
Gil McGowan  President, Alberta Federation of Labour
Alice Colak  Chief Operating Officer, Immigration and Settlement Service, Catholic Social Services
Al Brown  Assistant Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - Local 424
Michael Toal  Representative, Local 1118, United Food and Commercial Workers Union
Lynn Gaudet  Immigration Consultant, As an Individual
Tanveer Sharief  Immigration Consultant, Commissioner for Oath, Immigration Plus, As an Individual
Peter Veress  Founder and President, Vermax Group Inc., As an Individual

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

And if a union were to try to get in, would you welcome a union?

3 p.m.

General Manager, Sunterra Meats - Innisfail

Miles Kliner

I'm not sure there's any need for us to.

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Mr. Mahl, in the recruiting that you do, what countries do you mostly recruit from?

3 p.m.

President, TC Hunter

Trevor Mahl

We recruit from the United States, India, and the Philippines.

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

In India and the Philippines, do you have local contacts? Do you have people there that are in an office?

3 p.m.

President, TC Hunter

Trevor Mahl

We're actually in the process of setting up our own office in the Philippines under--

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Will that have locally engaged staff?

3 p.m.

President, TC Hunter

Trevor Mahl

Yes.

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

And they would use the practices that are used in the Philippines?

3 p.m.

President, TC Hunter

Trevor Mahl

Yes, they would. It will not be for fees. That's why we're looking at opening an office there--because unfortunately no company there will help you find a worker without paying a placement fee--

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Are you right now bringing people in out of India and the Philippines?

3 p.m.

President, TC Hunter

Trevor Mahl

Yes.

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Aren't you paying any fees to the people?

3 p.m.

President, TC Hunter

Trevor Mahl

Do you mean to the recruiters?

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

You have people in India who are recruiting, right?

3 p.m.

President, TC Hunter

Trevor Mahl

As I say, we've set up an office in the Philippines, so there are no fees that are--

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

You do have people in India who are recruiting for you?

3 p.m.

President, TC Hunter

Trevor Mahl

Yes.

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Are you paying the recruiters, yes or no?

3 p.m.

President, TC Hunter

Trevor Mahl

Yes.

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

You are paying the recruiters?

3 p.m.

President, TC Hunter

Trevor Mahl

We pay them a portion of the fee that is paid to us by the company.

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Okay, and do you know if the people the recruiters get are also paying the recruiters?

3 p.m.

President, TC Hunter

Trevor Mahl

I'm sorry, do you mean other recruitment firms or these people? I don't understand.

3 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

No. Your recruiters are being paid by you.