“Businesses are losing foreign workers because two government departments do not work together. One department takes too long to approve paperwork, so the other department cancels the work permits. I want the government to fix this.”

“Madam Speaker, a mix-up between two government departments is hurting our businesses and their temporary foreign workers. When our small and medium-sized businesses want to renew their employees’ work permits through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, they must submit a labour market impact assessment, or LMIA, within 60 days. However, Service Canada is the one that issues LMIA approvals. Since the Service Canada process takes more than 60 days, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada closes the files. As a result, in Rimouski, two workers at Armoires Perreault have been left without pay. A day care centre was denied two workers after waiting more than 100 days. Will the government stop punishing these people for its own mistakes?”

“The government requires foreign worker papers in 60 days, but takes 64 days to process them. The government must extend these deadlines while applications are being processed. When it closes a file by mistake, it should reopen it for free without making people start over.”

“Madam Speaker, it is simple: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada requires LMIAs in 60 days, but the service standard is 64 days. Obviously, this is not working, but Ottawa would rather blame the businesses than clean up its own mess. It is infuriating. The government must extend its deadlines when provided with proof that an LMIA is being processed. When it closes cases by error, it should at least allow them to be reopened at no cost and without having to begin the process all over again. Is it going to fix this disaster?”