Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today I talked about the foreign fieldworkers
problem that we have here in
Yellowknife — and not just here in Yellowknife but throughout the territory. It’s been noted many times over at length — and it’s probably exhausting to hear — how exciting and booming our economy is, but the fact is that businesses are suffering out here as well. We have a good economy, but we have businesses that can’t hire people to work there. We’ve had good examples throughout our city just alone.
When people have to close their business and close their doors because they can’t hire staff, that kind of makes you wonder who it is booming for. The problem arises, as I’ve noted, that they can’t hire staff, and potentially hiring foreign workers could help solve a lot of problems.
My question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is: if the Yukon government can strike an agreement with the Government of Canada and other provinces can strike some agreement and balance with the Government of Canada, would the Department of Education, Culture and Employment look at and strive to strike some agreement so we can hire and work through the paperwork for foreign workers?