Mr. Speaker, record-high youth unemployment in Canada is a direct result of the Liberal government's reckless immigration policies. By flooding the labour market with temporary foreign workers and residents, the current government has created a wage-suppressing crisis. Instead of protecting opportunities for young Canadians, these policies have locked our youth out of the workforce, fuelling a devastating job crisis.
Ethan Miranda is a bright young man who did everything he was supposed to do. He studied hard, earned excellent grades and was accepted in one of Canada's top universities in a highly competitive program. He graduated with honours and expected to find employment in his field. After 500 applications, he was forced to accept a job just barely above minimum wage.
Now the Liberal government has launched an international campaign to recruit more foreign students to Canada who compete with Ethan and other young Canadians who are struggling to find work. The Liberal government should stop pandering to lobbyists and start putting Canadians first. Conservatives would replace the temporary foreign worker program with one that would prioritize Canadian youth and Canadian workers.