Citizenship and Immigration Committee on April 16th, 2008

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

When you talk about having an advocate--and I think that's a fair point--to ensure that certain rights are advocated, wouldn't unions and organizations like yours be a good focal point to advocate on behalf of temporary foreign workers? I know in many cases they have. And I just heard from the labour relations board that they can actually form a union. But wouldn't you be the logical group to represent the interests and rights of temporary foreign workers?

[Rick Clarke]

We do if we have access to them. But under the structure, we would be, yes.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

And if we're going to deal with legislative things, it would seem that you might be the place to focus on, because you're already advocating on behalf of workers. Wouldn't that be so?

[Rick Clarke]

Well, exactly. I think that's probably because there's a federation in every region of the country.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Right. And then it seems that there ought to be a couple of things. Probably there should be some monitoring of the employers and employees under these circumstances. Would you agree with that?

[Rick Clarke]

Yes, as part of the advocacy, but there have to be guidelines.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

And there should be somebody to monitor them. Would that be fair?

[Rick Clarke]

Yes, it would depend on the structure.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

And perhaps at some point there should be some audits to make sure that everybody is complying with the processes and rules that are in place.

[Rick Clarke]

If it's under this current plan. The problem I have is that the way it is now, that's probably very difficult to do, because there are no guidelines.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Should there be some monitoring if there were guidelines?

[Rick Clarke]

I think so, yes.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

I suppose for those temporary workers who are here and who have worked for some time there ought to be some type of a patch through to permanent residency. Would you agree with that?

[Rick Clarke]

So they can have unification with their families if they want to become permanent. You used to be able to.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

There's a program in place that the government is talking about called the Canadian experience class, where certain temporary workers, skilled workers, and foreign students--after they've lived here a time--can apply for permanent residence. Are you in agreement with that principle? Should it perhaps be expanded?

[Rick Clarke]

I think we have to take a look at where we used to be. That's where my problem--

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

My question is with this particular situation as we have it today.

[Rick Clarke]

It all depends on how long they have to be here. Right now, under the current program, they have to be here for two years.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Yes, but we can change that. Is the idea good--the principle sound--to bridge them to permanent residence?

[Rick Clarke]

Yes, they should be able to apply.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

If they were able to apply for permanent residence, would you agree with the idea that their spouses and/or children should be allowed to come here under work visas so that they too could find a job if they came to the country?

[Rick Clarke]

Yes.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

You agree with that.

The provincial nominee program is another program that's been started, and some provinces have said that if you come over here as a temporary foreign worker and you've lived here for six months, we'll nominate you as a permanent resident. Are you in agreement with that principle?

[Rick Clarke]

It's not broad enough.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

As I understand it, it's up to the provinces to make it as broad as they want to. But in general, do you agree with that idea?