Transport Committee on May 30th, 2013

Evidence of meeting #75 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was projects.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

How Competition Can Make Infrastructure Dollars Go Further

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Scott Clements President and Chief Executive Officer, Fort McMurray Airport Authority

Stephen Taylor Director, National Citizens Coalition

5:05 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

Yes, it actually came back to me.

I'd just like your view on this issue, because with the cost of infrastructure and development in especially Fort McMurray.... We just spoke to the Nova Scotia home builders here, and they have difficulty finding tradesmen in that regard. The issue of temporary foreign workers came up.

Mr. Taylor, I'd like to know what the NCC's view is on the use of temporary foreign workers in terms of making projects like the oil sands or anything else that happens out there.

Mr. Clements, if you have any thoughts on that, that would be helpful as well.

Thank you, and I thank the chair for his indulgence.

5:05 p.m.

Director, National Citizens Coalition

Stephen Taylor

I'll just defer to Mr. Clements on that. We don't have any published view on that as of yet.

5:05 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

Fair enough.

5:05 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Fort McMurray Airport Authority

Scott Clements

You know there's no lack of work in Fort McMurray. We have lack of workers. We go and get them where we can. The temporary foreign workers program is exploited to the maximum.

As I recall the Minister of Immigration, he was pretty keen on helping Alberta with some flexibility to make it even better when he was up there. I was actually sorry to read that it's being abused elsewhere, but it's certainly not being abused in Fort McMurray. It's necessary.

5:05 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

As you know, sir, they're called temporary foreign workers, but the work is permanent. As you're saying, it could go on for many years.

5:05 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Fort McMurray Airport Authority

Scott Clements

A lot of them bring their families over after the two years and become Canadians.

5:05 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

Thank you.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Larry Miller

Thank you very much. I think the long week has caught up with us all. There's nobody on our speakers list.

Gentlemen, thank you very much for being here. Mr. Clements, I hope you have a great evening tonight.

Safe travels back, Mr. Taylor.

I wish everybody a good weekend. The meeting is adjourned.