Citizenship and Immigration committee  I just returned from Kelowna in British Columbia, where this year they're receiving 800 workers to pick cherries and apples. That work has traditionally been done by people from Quebec, all these years. Kelowna has a huge community centre for people who speak French. Yet the growers and the orchardists are moving to temporary workers because they consider the labour coming from Quebec unreliable.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It is not very often than I'm asked for advice from opposition parties, but this is such a serious issue nationally and for Quebec that you shouldn't go along with it. Having said that, I want to be totally non-partisan. I'm taking issue with something you said about Quebec labour standards being adhered to in the province of Quebec.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I have a quick comment with respect to the backlog. I was surprised to hear that in the last year Canada issued, with incredible speed, over 130,000 work authorizations for temporary workers. Yet we're unable to process members of the family class with the same celerity. My comment to the committee is that the government has its priorities wrong.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you very much. Good afternoon. Bonjour. I'll be very quick, because I don't think I have a lot of time here. I've worked for the Centre for Spanish Speaking People for the past 30 years. I want to express its opposition to the creation and expansion of any more guest worker or temporary worker programs.