Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses for being here. This is yet another diverse panel, which helps us gain a clear understanding of the various labour-related challenges that existed pre-pandemic and still exist now, during the pandemic.
I want to pick up on the point Mr. Sidhu made initially, about each region and each occupation type having different challenges.
I would like to hear your views on some of the one-size-fits-all programs the government put in place. The food service and retail sectors come to mind; when the unemployment rate in a region exceeds 6%, the processing of all LMIA applications stops. Right now, the unemployment rate is above 6% across Canada, so I'm interested in hearing your comments on the subject.
What does it mean for you? Despite the high unemployment rate, are your sectors still experiencing a labour shortage?