“The urgent priority binding all of the G8 economies together is the need for stronger economic growth and a return to competitiveness,” Beatty said.

Most companies using temporary foreign workers are small businesses that can’t afford to wait to find the appropriate workers and don’t have many options for training. Nor can they pay much higher wages to persuade Canadians to relocate.

The Temporary Foreign Workers Program is often the only way for small businesses to find the people they need. While they would much rather employ Canadians, or permanent immigrants, these businesses often have no choice but to look to temporary foreign workers to take jobs that would otherwise go unfilled.

“Privately-held businesses are key players in the Canadian economy, and for truly dynamic companies, growth is at the top of their agendas,” says Bill Brushett, National Leader, Clients and Services, Grant Thornton LLP. “While some companies simply chase top or bottom-line growth, those that are committed to achieving long-term success must look strategically across all core aspects of their business and grow them in harmony in order to fully achieve their objectives. Real growth is about getting better at what you do year over year. This kind of holistic growth creates value beyond the top or bottom line.”

“There is hardly a more urgent issue for Canadian business than skills and human resources,” said Mr. Beatty. “The Canadian Chamber has been front and centre on the skills shortages that are threatening Canada’s economic growth and competitiveness. By lending his name and talents to our new committee, Mr. Sullivan brings significant credibility to our efforts to confront this issue.”

Our members cite Canada’s reliance upon the United States for trade as one of the greatest barriers to their future prosperity. We called on the federal government to tackle this barrier, as well as nine others that make up our list of the Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness. We urged the government to diversify its trade relationships and develop strategies to expand Canada’s access to new markets, particularly in Asia, Africa and South America. The government responded by laying out a plan of action in its 2013 budget.

Our members cite skill shortages as the greatest barrier to their future prosperity. We called on the federal government to tackle this barrier, as well as nine others that make up our list of the Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness. We urged the government to work with business to upgrade the skills of the existing labour force, match the skills acquired by Canadians with the skills needed by employers and better employ underutilized segments of the population, such as Aboriginal peoples, youth, the disabled and recent immigrants. We also pressed the government to ensure its immigration policy is aligned with local labour markets and employers’ needs. The government responded by laying out a plan of action in its 2013 budget.

Our members cite Canada’s aging public infrastructure as one of the greatest barriers to their future prosperity. We called on the federal government to tackle this barrier, as well as nine others that make up our list of the Top 10 Barriers to Competitiveness. We urged the government to initiate a national infrastructure investment plan that includes new funding models, increased private-sector involvement, and takes into account the wide range of challenges and opportunities in communities across Canada. The government responded by laying out a plan of action in its 2013 budget.