Human Resources committee  We worked on a number of major projects in the seventies and eighties, and who would be allowed to work was always a contentious issue, even within the union side. It had to do with trying to first get jobs for their own members before going out more broadly. I thought those had

Human Resources committee  I'm an entrepreneur and I live in centre Ottawa, but I've been out to northeast Calgary on occasion. You have to be very careful when people talk to you about shortages of low-skilled workers. What they may be talking about is a shortage of low-paid workers. If the pay is adequat

Human Resources committee  So all that in two minutes? I, too, am an immigrant to this country. I feel immigration should have, and has had, a role in Canada's development, not so much in filling skill shortages as in making Canada a more diverse society. Immigrants contribute to our trade relationships

Human Resources committee  Sure. The one reason you forecast is to get a lead time and to anticipate what you can do. The secret there is to recognize that the very first thing is that the future is not forecastable. None of us know what will be the demand for anything 10 years or 20 years from now. But w

Human Resources committee  You have to ask them questions too.

Human Resources committee  Sure. I think most economists would say they expect wages to track productivity growth. That is, you would have a 10% increase in wages if your productivity went up by 10%. Historically that's what it looked like until about 1980 in Canada and the U.S. Since that time a gap has b

Human Resources committee  If it's a global issue like that, your exchange rate should make your adjustment for you. You shouldn't be trying to do it through your micro policies. You shouldn't do it by screwing one group in your society for the benefit of another. It's why exchange rates exist, and how the

Human Resources committee  I'll leave aside the OAS issue, because I don't think I mentioned it. It's outside the HR purview. Now, let me make my comments brief. It's always a problem in rural Canada just getting the jobs there. There are some, with the construction jobs during resource development, etc.,

Human Resources committee  Yes. I think if you look at the national view, the participation rate is the fraction of the people who are over 15 and want to work, are looking for work, or are working. The labour force is rising for those who are 15 to 64. Even for those 15 and over, although the participati

Human Resources committee  Thank you very much for the opportunity to meet with you. I thought it would be useful for me to share with you some comments as we look at the skills gap stuff. Maybe I can turn a few lights on for those of you who are preparing what sound to be two very interesting documents.