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.
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
What improvements would you recommend to the current temporary worker program? What would you suggest?
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Yes, what improvements would you recommend to the temporary worker program?
2:55 p.m.
General Manager, Sunterra Meats - Innisfail
Speaking purely from our experience--and I guess from an employer's experience--once the LMO pre-approval has been completed, the confirmation process tends to be an area where things get dramatically bogged down. It seems to me there are really no timetables within which those steps are expected to take, and secondly, at the embassy level, we experience the same types of problems.
I recognize you can't just throw more people resources at it, but I think the process could be streamlined beyond what it is currently. I think that would assist both government agencies and employers, or recruiters, in being able to manage the timelines in which they are expecting to be able to recruit foreign workers.
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Okay. We're going to go to one, two, and three pretty quickly. You have a couple of minutes each because I have to manage the time.
We'll start with Ms. Beaumier, then Mr. Karygiannis, and Mr. Carrier.
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
Colleen Beaumier Liberal Brampton West, ON
I'll go first.
I'm a bit like a dog with a bone. In the Toronto area and Ontario, as you are probably aware, there are 10,000 underground workers--skilled labourers--who are currently working illegally in the construction industry. If someone comes to you and they have been working under these conditions, can you get them a working visa? You certainly can't get it in Ontario; they will be deported.
We have people who have lived here for 10 or 15 years; they have children who have gone into the school system because they originally claimed refugee status, so their kids were entitled. They are now working in Canada. We have a shortage of skilled labour. Do you see a way of wedding what you need out here with giving these people a second chance so that they can work here and eventually apply to be landed if they are skilled workers?
2:55 p.m.
President, TC Hunter
We work with a group of pretty fantastic companies, and I can say that with confidence because of the programs they have developed in their own companies to train the workers, to put them through cultural awareness programs, and to go above and beyond. These are presidents of companies saying, “Come into my home for dinner.”
We have the companies. We have the jobs. As you said, it's the same thing in Ontario. Obviously, they have to come in legally with a proper LMO and an offer letter.
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
Colleen Beaumier Liberal Brampton West, ON
In other words, people who are here illegally are being deported.
2:55 p.m.
President, TC Hunter
Yes.
I would like to just comment on it. In Alberta, as far as I know, they are here legally. They have an LMO and they have a work permit.
3 p.m.
Liberal
Colleen Beaumier Liberal Brampton West, ON
But that's not what I'm talking about. I wanted solutions for my tens of thousands of people when they come to my office. I just can't say, “Nice seeing you. Hide your sorry ass or you're going to be shipped out.” This is basically all we can do in Ontario.
3 p.m.
President, TC Hunter
Yes.
We can use workers in Alberta. There is no doubt. There are tons of jobs.
3 p.m.
President, TC Hunter
I know that, and I know there are a lot of workers in Quebec as well.
3 p.m.
President, TC Hunter
They have to go through the proper process. They have to be here legally. I would say that for certain. If they go through the proper work permit process, we can help them. Call me and we can find them a place.
3 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Thank you.
Mr. Karygiannis and Mr. Carrier, please proceed quickly.
3 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Miles, are you a union shop or a non-union shop?
3 p.m.
Liberal
3 p.m.
Liberal