Human Resources committee  We haven't taken a comprehensive approach to this across the nation, but I can say that a number of employers, especially in the larger firms, where they have key workers and want to keep them, will shift their duties to something more amenable to their age and station in life, and that way they maintain that corporate knowledge.

Human Resources committee  I believe if they were willing and able to work in our industry and could acquire the skills, that would be a wonderful opportunity for us. Wonderful.

Human Resources committee  I think Phil was talking about his area in Nova Scotia, but I know that in other regions--let's take Newfoundland, for example--there has been a downsizing in the population, and I believe the statistics bear that out. A lot of the young people are leaving because they can't find permanent jobs in their province.

Human Resources committee  To speak to your point, Mr. Martin, in terms of what our work has been in British Columbia working with disadvantaged groups, we have a partnership with two organizations there. One is called ASPECT. You may have heard of it; it helps economically disadvantaged people in the province.

Human Resources committee  Thank you very much. I think your question is well founded, but what we're talking about is having to address the issues of skill shortages and families actually having to make a living, even if it's not in optimum conditions. Perhaps what we're talking about when we talk about worker mobility is not on a grand scale but in particular regions for particular periods of time.

Human Resources committee  I'm very happy that you raised that issue. In our sector we have been trying for a number of years to gather some support to provide career information to the high schools and colleges about occupations within our sector. It has been a tough sell in the seafood processing industry, as you can understand.

Human Resources committee  Of course we have an issue of an aging workforce, but we also have to deal with competition from other sectors, both from urban areas where our seafood processing sector exists, such as in Vancouver, for example, and also from more prosperous economies. If we don't address this issue adequately, the potential exists for the diminishing of our sector.

Human Resources committee  Thank you, Phil. There has been much discussion and debate recently on the topic of bringing in foreign workers to meet the shortages of the Canadian labour market; yet more efforts should be made to maximize and effectively utilize the Canadian labour pool. Our approach is to seek a way to increase labour mobility within Canada with relative ease for our workers.

Human Resources committee  He is a board member.

Human Resources committee  That's seven minutes for the two of us.

Human Resources committee  Thank you. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for that introduction. The National Seafood Sector Council provides viable solutions to human resource and labour challenges in the seafood processing industry. Numerous industry enterprises, associations, institutes, and related organizations hold membership within our council.