Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

The committee was meeting to hear witnesses as part of its study of the temporary foreign worker program. Before the scheduled testimony began, a Conservative member raised a procedural complaint. He noted that his party had submitted 39 proposed witnesses for the study, none of whom had been scheduled for this meeting, while two witness groups from the Liberal party’s 13 submissions were present. He argued that the chair should allocate witness slots in proportion to each party’s submissions and moved that the chair be directed to consult with the vice-chairs before finalizing witness panels and to have five to six witness groups appear per meeting. He also moved to adjourn the meeting.

The committee did not proceed to hear any witness testimony. No minister or departmental official appeared. The member’s motions were introduced but no decision or resolution on them is recorded in the transcript. The meeting was adjourned without any substantive discussion of the temporary foreign worker program or any other business.