And they have been to the construction sites, and you have shown them how it works, and all that kind of thing.
I think the situation here, as I understand it from the three presentations, is a question of how to balance, on the one hand, protecting your own members and prospective members in Newfoundland and Labrador, which you very naturally want to do, and, on the other hand, accepting some temporary workers when they are needed.
Certainly, Mr. Pretty, the lack of communication at HRSDC, which you mentioned, is absolutely important. We've heard in other cases that--and I don't want to be political--there are things to be done by the present government on this. As I said, that balance, which is not easy, is going to have to be brought in, as I see it, through any recommendations this committee will want to make regarding a systemic reform of the whole foreign temporary workers program.
It seems to me that it's like--is it Topsy who grew, and she grew in all directions all at once, and nobody knew where she was going? I get my English literature sort of confused sometimes. But here is a program that had some good ideas, and they grew and grew because there was demand. You've pointed out the fact that they're used by people--not by everybody--overseas as a shortcut for coming into the country. I agree absolutely.
There's a need--and I would certainly ask if you would support a recommendation on the part of this committee to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and HRSDC--to do a complete restudy of the whole system of foreign temporary workers from top to bottom, with some very strong recommendations on how, on the one hand, to protect “native workers”--I don't know what else to call them--and, on the other hand, to make this system work, because there is a need for these people in some industries, some of the time, across Canada, and for yourselves as well.
I'd very much like somebody to perhaps say aloud, so it can go on the record, that they would like to see that kind of recommendation on behalf of this committee.
Thank you.