Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you for being at this last meeting as part of our cross-Canada consultations.
During these consultations, we've talked a lot about the situation of temporary foreign workers and the consequences of that situation. We've addressed the problem at more than one level. On the one hand, we've gone so far as to question the program's relevance and effects on the labour market. We've talked about how these workers were treated. On the other hand, we've taken a more detailed look at the major problems with the present program, obviously for the eventual purpose of making recommendations.
To talk about the program in a more overall rather than detailed way, I'll tell you about an irritant that we've systematically been told about, the fact that the temporary foreign workers' visas are closed, that workers are assigned to a single employer. That situation gives the employer a disproportionate advantage in a relationship of power. Here we're talking about the possibility of blackmail, and thus abuse, in view of the fact that the simple risk of losing the right to work in Canada can induce a worker to accept any working conditions. Quite early on, it seemed clear to me that we had to put an end to that situation. The visa should be open and temporary foreign workers should be able to choose their employers, somewhat as Canadians do.
That said, a certain number of restrictions will have to be set, to ensure, for example, that individuals recruited to offset a labour shortage in a given employment field remain in that field if they change employers. We'll also have to ensure that the question of the province of residence is respected in order to prevent individuals recruited by certain provinces from all leaving for Alberta, for example.
The last point that has come out of these cross-Canada consultations is the fact that, to bring a temporary foreign worker into the country, an employer has to pay for that worker's return ticket, as well as recruitment fees. Employers have pointed out that, if employees could change employers as they wished, without restrictions, once they arrive in Canada, certain employers recruiting temporary workers could lose money relative to other employers who wouldn't invest in recruitment.
We could consider a system in which employees would be free to change jobs in order to improve their working conditions. On the other hand, the new employers of those workers would have to compensate the first employers for initial costs incurred. I've tested that idea across Canada, and I didn't want to forget Newfoundland.
In your opinion, without considering the program in general, could that kind of change improve matters?