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Andrea Janus, CTVNews.ca Published Monday, April 28, 2014 3:58PM EDT Last Updated Monday, April 28, 2014 7:23PM EDT

The auditor general should be called in to probe the Temporary Foreign Workers Program, the Liberals said Monday, days after the Conservative government suspended the food-service sector from the program over reports of abuse.

Employment Minister Jason Kenney announced last Thursday that the restaurant industry will be unable to access the program pending an investigation by his department.

The issue came up quickly during question period in the House of Commons on Monday as MPs returned to work after a two-week Easter break.

Liberal MP Ralph Goodale said problems with the program extend beyond the food-service sector, and asked the government to go beyond an internal investigation by calling in the auditor general.

We know there are problems, as well, in banking and mining and other industries, too, Goodale said.

Over a year ago Liberals warned about this. To save the program, we asked for full review to get rid of the abuses. The government voted no and the trouble got worse. The department cannot investigate itself. Isnt it time for the auditor general to get on this file?

Kenney replied that the auditor general is free to investigate whatever he deems appropriate without direction from the government, and said the government responds when it receives reports of abuse.

In terms of the program, of course, if and when there are abuses we act clearly and quickly, Kenney told the House. If we see any distortion of the labour market we are going to address that.

Kenney noted that reforms were introduced to the program last year, which led to a significant drop in applications. He will unveil further changes in the coming weeks to ensure Canadians always and everywhere get the first crack at available jobs and that the program is only used as a limited and last resort by employers.

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Liberals demand feds call on Auditor General to probe foreign workers program