Thank you for the question.
We intentionally added that to my speaking notes because I think it's really important to highlight the critical role that immigration and immigration policies have played and will play in growing Canada. However, these opportunities should not be at the expense of Canadians who are permanent residents: They should have access and be able to apply if they are qualified and interested in the role.
I mentioned the statistics that come from IRCC's website, and StatsCan has a number of great data points. As for our growth, the immigrant population is a major source of labour in Canada.
I would challenge this committee and the members on it. We have a demographic problem. We have a population problem, and that is not news. It's now being talked about by the Bank of Canada. If the population number continues to go the way it has been going.... We're facing some pretty considerable economic challenges. You will, quite simply, not attract the business owner of the new software AI company who wants to come to Canada if they can't find access to labour, if their taxes are too high and if the cost of operating their business is too high. It simply won't succeed, and Canada will continue to lose out.