Finance committee  One of the things I would respond to on that is that there is a view that temporary foreign workers should be a complement to the Canadian labour market, not a substitute. It's that notion of where temporary foreign workers are required and under conditions where they're required.

Finance committee  These provisions apply to the federal skilled worker program, not to the temporary foreign worker program.

Finance committee  Yes, there were a number of different alternatives that were looked at before this decision was taken, and as you know, people who are affected by this provision will be able to resubmit their application should they so choose. In doing so, they would be much more likely to receive, if they're eligible, a selection decision within six to 12 months as opposed to waiting any longer.

Finance committee  Absolutely, they can.

Finance committee  Let me just address your first issue around resources, and if we had applied more resources would that have made a difference.

Finance committee  The answer to that is actually that the output is always constrained by the immigration levels plan, so it's not necessarily a question of resources. It's a question of the amount of room that's in the national immigration levels plan, so that's one. Your second question I think was in regard to if we are moving in a different direction with....

Finance committee  That's really not related to these provisions at all. The temporary foreign worker program is a very large program. It includes temporary foreign workers. It can include students. It can include visitors. So it's quite a large program, but none of the provisions that are outlined here are directly related to that program.

Finance committee  Well, as you know, because these are provisions in the budget act, they've only been made public since the introduction of Bill C-38. I guess there is an expectation that some people who have been in the federal skilled worker backlog for some time could be disappointed, and we certainly understand that, but by moving in this kind of very direct manner, and being very clear about what the provisions are and what the cut-offs are and allowing people the opportunity to reapply under the current program...I think that's the approach that has been taken.

Finance committee  Do you want to take that, David?

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. My name is Sandra Harder. I'm the director general for strategic policy at Citizenship and Immigration. I'm joined by my colleague David Manicom, Cam Carruthers from HRSDC, and Tamara Miller from Finance. I'm going to make some opening remarks about four provisions in division 54, and then Mr.