I think I would start by saying that the fact that we have employer-specific work permits does allow us to know where employees are and to do check-ins and inspections. If everyone had an open work permit, that would be a lot harder to track.
I understand that there are sensitivities around employer-specific work permits. I am very sensitive to that. However, I think we also have to be mindful that because there is an employer tied to the permit, we have an ability to inspect and to offer supports to employees who find themselves in a bad situation.
That said, I think what the department has done to address the context of vulnerable employees is setting up the open worker permit for vulnerable employees so that they have a pathway to report abuse and to be able to stay in this country and not be deported. We try to really limit the threshold for them to be able to access that open work permit.