Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you for the question. In Quebec, there is also a case in the headlines concerning workers who were victims of abuse on the part of an employer; we have been calling for an end to it for years. We understand the situation very well. It is deplorable. We work closely with RATTMAQ, which has partners on the ground, to find rapid solutions and help workers who have to be removed from their workplace urgently in order to protect them.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Our position is this: the employment contract that is signed by the employer and the worker is for a specified term, and that contract must be honoured by the parties. In our opinion, that is very precise. Take the example of agricultural workers. A worker from Guatemala arrives in Canada and starts the season with a strawberry producer.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That's right.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  When there is a change of employer, Service Canada does the LMIAs, and that takes three or four weeks. We are asking that the LMIA take one week. For the issuance of a second work permit, it is now taking 27 weeks. We believe that IRCC should automate the issuance of second permits.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  We have been calling for access to permanent residence for foreign workers who want it for a long time, but in Quebec, we have to have that discussion with the minister, Ms. Fréchette. For us, it falls under the Quebec ministère de l'Immigration.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  We think that information about emergency work permits for vulnerable workers really has to be disseminated better. This tool has been in place in Canada since 2019, but it is unknown, really. We heard about a few little problems when it was brought in. In fact, RATTMAQ reported it to us.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Working with our partner AGRIcarrières, we organized brigades in the first summer of the COVID‑19 pandemic to go out and meet with the workers in their workplaces. Our objective was to explain their rights and how to exercise them. We also work with the CNESST to find employers and persuade them to agree to have government representatives come in who will explain the workers' rights.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That is a very good question, sir. I think that all Canadians have a responsibility when it comes to this. I have had numerous discussions with people. We realize that foreign workers do not have the same work culture in their countries of origin as Canadian workers have. What we want is for the foreign workers who come to work in Canada to adopt the same work culture as Canadian workers.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It is certainly a very good experience. In Quebec, we have various forums, like the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail. We already have organizations that allow for discussion among employers, workers and government.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes, farmers in Quebec care about their employees' welfare.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you. We bring together all agricultural employers in Quebec. The Union des producteurs agricoles has 12 regional offices. In each of those offices, we have what we call an agricultural employment centre. The centres are funded in large part by the Government of Quebec under the Canada-Quebec workforce development agreements.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No, it is not an accurate and complete assessment. Certainly, every case of abuse on the part of an employer is one case too many. The UPA takes concrete action. For example, we have a 1‑800 phone line for temporary agricultural workers that is connected to one of our regional offices.