Hon. Julie Miville-Dechêne: Senator Moreau, I would like to again raise the issue of the crisis we’re experiencing in Quebec because of the restrictions on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Quebec’s business community is unanimously calling on the Carney government to introduce a grandfather clause allowing companies to retain these foreign workers and ensure that their work permits are renewed.

Will you agree to this request, or at least consider it?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): You attended a breakfast this morning with the Minister of Public Safety, who indicated that the government is well aware that immigration is an important issue, particularly for rural communities in Canada, and that immigration is critical to Canada’s future.

The government has a real desire to recognize the importance of immigration in Canada. The situation of temporary workers, which is particularly evident in the agricultural sector, is unique in that the federal government must strike a balance between its challenging relations with the United States and the need to guarantee jobs in Canada.

In this situation, the government is aware that it still needs to pay special attention to the issue of temporary workers, because that is what the industry and various sectors of the economy are calling for. However, Quebec also needs to take action in this area. You know that discussions must be held between the federal government and the governments of the Atlantic provinces in particular.

Senator Miville-Dechêne: As you know, this situation does not just affect the agricultural sector. It also affects manufacturing companies outside Montreal, where there is a real fear of losing workers.

This request seems reasonable, since businesses’ success depends on their access to workers. Is your 10% cap on low‑wage foreign workers justified given the labour shortage in the regions?

Senator Moreau: This cap is justified considering that the government has tightened the rules to ensure that foreign worker programs meet the demands of the agricultural and manufacturing sectors and that priority is given to local talent, that is, ultimately to Canadians.

This situation is constantly evolving, and we are well aware of that. Discussions are ongoing between the federal government and the provinces, particularly Quebec. I can’t tell you what the outcome will be at this point, but I would emphasize that this situation — [time expired]