Oh, it was temporary foreign workers. I was thinking about undocumented workers.
In 2002 we changed the point system at the urging of the bureaucrats. I have learned, having been on this committee for 10 years and having seen seven ministers come and go, that when you talk about the minister having this power or that power, the bureaucracy has this power or that power. The ministers don't do a whole lot. It's done by the bureaucracy.
I go back to the issue of people in precarious status, undocumented workers. I've used those words interchangeably for a while. The numbers really got driven up because in 2002 the point system was changed when the bureaucracy persuaded the minister to sign off on it, notwithstanding the fact that the citizenship and immigration committee warned the minister that this would not work.
The bureaucracy at that point in time lied to the committee. It's a matter of public record that they lied to the committee. It also went on to a court case in which it was part of a decision. They misinformed the committee, and I really think we should have had them in for contempt. What that has done is driven up the number of people who are undocumented, because the people who were allowed in legally as landed immigrants were no longer capable of fulfilling the jobs that the economy wanted, mostly trades jobs.
We actually have more skilled people, and I could say to you--I've been using this as an example--Frank Stronach of Magna International would not get in. Frank Hasenfratz, chairman of Linamar, would not get in. Mike Lazaridis, the inventor of the BlackBerry, wouldn't get in. I dare say that 95% of the people who came in as immigrants wouldn't get in, and what I find curious is, when the bureaucrats grab for power, given the track record they have, what we need is transparency and accountability within the department.
I'm going to throw it over to you, Mr. Dheer, because you wanted to talk about undocumented workers, or should I say precarious immigration status. Would you agree with me that this is a problem?
The other problem we have is that by bringing in more temporary foreign workers, we're creating the kind of society that.... Germany had problems with it, and other countries have had problems with it. I want people coming in here whose kids are going to get up and make inventions such as the BlackBerry, which is made by a world-class company.