Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. The government agrees with you that we need to attract skilled workers as quickly as possible.

I’m advised that Express Entry — the government’s gateway system — can attract top-ranked, skilled candidates to apply for permanent resident status and to get them to work in Canada in the fastest time and fastest way possible.

In addition, the government offers key economic immigration programs to attract talented people to contribute to communities across our country, such as the International Mobility Program.

I note further that the government also works with Employment and Social Development Canada, or ESDC, to improve the Foreign Credential Recognition Program and to prioritize the processing of work permit applications in that regard.

Budget 2022 proposed important funding to this end — notably, seeking to help up to 11,000 internationally trained health care professionals per year to find work in their field.

The government remains responsive and open to suggestions for improvement to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including considerations for a skilled workforce.