Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Comité permanent des comptes publics

For immediate release

Ottawa, December 13, 2017 -

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) implemented measures that reduced the number of temporary foreign workers approved, but did not do enough to ensure the program is used only as a last resort, according to a report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts tabled today in the House of Commons by the Hon. Kevin Sorenson, Chair of the Committee.

In the spring of 2017, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) released a performance audit that examined whether ESDC managed the program to allow employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary basis due to labour shortages in cases where qualified Canadians were not available, as well as on whether the Department ensured that employers were in compliance with the program’s requirements.

Specifically, the OAG found that the Department’s review of employers’ applications to the program and on-site inspections—to verify that employers who hired temporary foreign workers complied with program requirements—were not sufficient.

Consequently, the Committee has made 12 recommendations that aim to address the concerns raised by the OAG. Furthermore, the Committee will continue to monitor ESDC’s progress through a review of its forthcoming response to this report.