Human Resources committee  I can take the first part of the question. When PBO staff appeared before the finance committee, we heard that during the pre-budget consultation members of the finance committee heard that there was a shortage and there was a skills mismatch. It's a form of data but we don't know if it's perfect information.

Human Resources committee  Let me add something, Mr. Chair, very quickly. The questions in the 2011 survey from Statistics Canada are really enlightening, in terms of the kind of information they elicit. All of this information on the questions you asked is there. This is exactly what we need to do any analysis.

Human Resources committee  I would say that the first thing is to have regular data and not just on some aspects of the labour market. I mentioned, and quoted from, a report done in 2009 that was chaired by Don Drummond. I just quoted some parts of that report. But Don Drummond, the chair of the committee, estimated that to have very good data on all the topics that you mentioned, it would cost about $39 million.

Human Resources committee  I will ask Mostafa to answer that question. Every time that people ask me for recommendations, since we don't really make recommendations, I ask Mostafa, so as to keep myself out of trouble.

Human Resources committee  Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair. PBO will be happy to appear again in front of this committee, if it's the wish of this committee. I will ask Mostafa Askari who negotiated or discussed with the ESDC and Statistics Canada for the result and the timeline. As I mentioned, we are in contact with them, as we are with many departments, to get the data not only regarding job vacancies but also the temporary foreign workers.

Human Resources committee  As mentioned in my presentation, and that's what the PBO report found, there's no real skills mismatch. There's always the possibility of having mismatch in some pockets, in some areas, but there's no national skills mismatch across Canada.

Human Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. The first part of my presentation will be in English and the second half will be in French. Good morning, Chair, vice-chairs, and members of the committee. I would like to thank you for inviting me today to speak today on the Canadian labour market in the context of the committee’s study of labour market development agreements.

Finance committee  If I may, I would like to add a comment. That does not mean, however, that the matter of budget 2012 and the information we asked for is off our radar. We are continuing to work on it with our parliamentary partners, with the Information Commissioner and by continuing our discussions.

Finance committee  Is that an official request that you are making in public here?

Finance committee  We will proceed as we usually do when we receive requests of that kind: we meet with the person making the request to discuss the parameters of the report.

Finance committee  I will pass that question to Mr. Askari, who can provide you with more details about the subject. The PBO exists to help parliamentarians. Our purpose is to identify precisely that kind of situation. We try to provide parliamentarians with explanations as much as we can, but things can get difficult.

Finance committee  First, I would like to say that I agree with my predecessor's statement. I remember having said at this committee that I remember fondly the committees—and this goes back 10 or 15 years—that used to go over the main estimates perhaps for two months. Each of the responsible committees did an in-depth review of the estimates.

Finance committee  Just don't.

Finance committee  In our negotiations with the CRA, we in effect agreed to have an agreement with them, so that they will provide the information. At least it's going to be a beginning. We make clear in my discussions and the team discussions with CRA that it is a beginning. We can see what we will do with that.

Finance committee  I would simply say my heart is bleeding, as a reference to the heartbleed bug. The team, to be very short, will develop five strategic priorities over the next five years. Number four is exactly about defending the legislative mandate to have access to information, with all the means that will be required.