Thank you. My apologies.
Service Canada reviews the applications to ensure that employers and job offers are genuine, and that employers have complied with the program rules and applicable labour laws. Applications are also assessed against a number of labour marker factors to ensure that the hiring of temporary foreign workers will not have a negative impact on the Canadian labour market. Among these factors, employers are required to demonstrate that they have advertised to and recruited Canadians and permanent residents, for example, through common online platforms such as Canada's Job Bank. This includes targeted efforts to reach out to underrepresented groups who may be underemployed in the labour market.
The program includes an employer compliance regime supported by inspections which serve to protect foreign workers from abuse and exploitation, and to protect the integrity of the Canadian labour market by verifying that employers comply with program rules. Penalties for non-compliance include fines ranging from $500 to a maximum of $100,000 per violation and $1 million per year, with program bans as well for various lengths—from one to 10 years—and permanent bans for egregious cases.
Finally, I would like to say a few words about the program's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Early on, the government took steps to protect the health and safety of workers and the public in response to this new threat.
These included publishing guidance for employers and workers and introducing new regulations that compelled employers to meet new public health requirements. Funds were also allocated to increase capacity for inspections and enhance Service Canada's ability to receive and assess allegations of non-compliance.
Additional measures included funding migrant worker organizations to support workers affected by COVID-19, as well as new programs implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to help employers offset some of the costs related to the quarantining of workers, including improvements to accommodations to ensure public health requirements were met.
In recognition of the agriculture sector's reliance on foreign labour, ESDC has also implemented a number of administrative measures to support timely access to workers, including priority processing of applications from agriculture and agri-food employers. Conversely, we have stopped processing applications for select occupations and industries where the pandemic caused significant unemployment, such as hospitality and food service sectors, to ensure that Canadians are considered first for those jobs.
Lastly, the government launched consultations last fall with provinces and territories and program stakeholders to establish accommodation requirements for employers who hire temporary foreign workers, focusing on ensuring better living conditions for workers. We're reviewing the input on that and we'll be informing on next steps shortly.
We are of course continuing to work with provinces and program partners to continue strengthening our approaches to the pandemic.
We continue to monitor the economic situation as well as the pandemic. We will adapt the program to ensure that it works for employers, Canadian workers and temporary foreign workers.
I will be pleased to answer any questions.