I think the committee members should ask themselves some questions about the consequences of unequal or inequitable treatment of temporary immigrant workers on occupational health and safety conditions for workers generally. What responsibility to businesses in the industries that have access to this temporary workforce bear? What authorities are responsible for compliance with occupational health and safety standards in those industries, if those authorities are provincial while the immigration programs are under federal jurisdiction? What authorities will provide epidemiological monitoring of temporary immigrant workers' health?
It must be recalled that occupational health and safety is a feather in the cap of our democracy, and that it guarantees the health, safety and dignity of workers. I believe that treating temporary workers differently would be a blot on our democracy.