“The government uses Montreal's high unemployment rate to block businesses in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu from hiring temporary foreign workers. Saint-Jean's unemployment is low, and local businesses need these workers. I want the government to change this rule and treat Saint-Jean separately from Montreal.”

“Mr. Speaker, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is not Montreal, yet the federal government treats it as if it were Montreal when applying temporary foreign worker program rules. As a result, because the unemployment rate is high in Montreal, we are not allowed to hire or retain workers in Saint-Jean, even though our unemployment rate is low. Everyone has spoken out against this policy: the city, members of the Quebec National Assembly, the chamber of commerce, businesses and so on. I myself have contacted three ministers, including the Quebec lieutenant. Since Saint-Jean is not Montreal, will the government treat Saint-Jean separately instead of harming businesses?”

“The government treats Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu like Montreal, but workers will not travel that far. Local defence businesses cannot hire or keep the workers they need. I want the minister to change the rules.”

“Mr. Speaker, the federal government, in its laziness, assumes that all towns within the same census metropolitan area are the same, but I repeat: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is not Montreal. People from Montreal will not travel two and a half hours by public transit, one way, to come here and work. Let us not forget that we are a strategic national hub for defence and that, at a time when the federal government is investing in defence, local businesses are not allowed to hire staff or retain their existing workforce. Does the minister realize how absurd this is? Is she going to change the rules?”

• Vague
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  Opposition question in Question Period

  Clarity 49 of 100

  Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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