Citizenship and Immigration committee  Just quickly, I would agree with that. Again, it's going back to the less work we make for employees to do redundant activities.... If we can extend it and build flexibility into the program so that year after year they're not returning to do that, I would agree with Mr. Vander Ploeg for sure.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  As one of those who is in the aging population, absolutely; that's what we hear all the time. We have a company that has said it's going to need 10,000 workers of all skill levels over the next five years. We have agriculture. We have aquaculture. Students are a great first line of defence, so we need to make sure we get international students coming to our universities and entrench them in our communities.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I don't think I'll speak up, Brandon. I don't think we're too aware of that right now and what the effect would be in Atlantic Canada. As Jolayne alluded to, for anything that adds an extra step—an extra “i” that needs to be dotted or a “t” that needs to be crossed or delays—at this time, it's burdensome to employers.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  If I may add to that, with concierge services like a dedicated phone line, if you look at what Nova Scotia did in their office of regulatory efficiency, ORASE, they developed that one-stop shop where businesses can go to one person and then government deals behind the scenes with everything it needs to do to get the right response for people.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I can speak to that, certainly. I think what we're seeing is that, overall, any amount of time that people have to spend in quarantine and quarantine hotels certainly ups the costs. Any subsidy the government provides at this time, especially considering all the added costs and the losses that businesses are currently incurring as a result of 18 months of shutdowns and then being back in business, is always very helpful.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Brandon, you can jump in if you'd like, but we have the designated employer program, which works very well in Atlantic Canada. If you think about it, anything that you don't have to do twice increases your efficiencies, and that's what you want: increased efficiency, increased efficacy, a reduction in the time intensity that employers and employees have to put in.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I believe so. Quite frankly, we need more bodies in Atlantic Canada. We have an aging and shrinking population, and inclusive growth is part and parcel of our economic growth and the region's sustainability. Absolutely, I would say yes to that.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Ellis will be taking our time. He'll lead the charge on this one.