Temporary foreign workers: Businesses needing skilled workers sideswiped by changes.

From ski resorts to doctors' offices, employers say they rely on foreign hires

By Susana Mas, CBC News Posted: Jul 23, 2014 5:00 AM ET Last Updated: Jul 23, 2014 4:56 PM ET

David Lynn, the president and CEO of the Canada West Ski Areas Association, has written to Employment Minister Jason Kenney to complain about the recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Lynn says the new rules are a threat to the ski and tourism industry in Western Canada. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Canadian employers who use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to hire high-skilled workers say they have been sideswiped by changes intended to curb abuses of the program by businesses that employ low-skilled workers in the fast-food sector.

Employers must now pay $1,000 for every temporary foreign worker they want to hire and pass a more rigorous labour market impact assessment test to prove the need to hire a foreign worker over a Canadian, under new rules announced in June. The government introduced a $275 fee last year, but there was no fee prior to April 2013.

• Temporary Foreign Worker Program overhaul

Representatives in the film and TV industry were recently told work permits for foreign actors and directors would be issued in a timely manner, while employers who hire foreign musicians were exempted from the new rules. Employers looking to hire low-skilled workers in the seafood industry, however, have had no such luck.

Groups in the tourism, health, tech and business community are also complaining they have been inadvertently targeted by the changes announced by Employment Minister Jason Kenney and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander.

David Lynn, the president and CEO of the Canada West Ski Areas Association, told CBC News he wrote to Kenney after his members were "blindsided" by the new rules.

"The number of changes and the magnitude of those changes shocked most people in the business community," Lynn said from Whistler on Tuesday.

"We feel the government should deal directly with people that are abusing the program and not institute a series of draconian changes that impact all of the people adversely, including those people who use the program responsibly."

'We strongly urge the government to consider modifications to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to accommodate the unique needs of our industry'- David Lynn, president and CEO, Canada West Ski Areas Association

According to Lynn, his members hire approximately 500 temporary foreign workers over a typical ski season and the $1,000 fee is putting at risk an industry that is already struggling to break even. 

In a letter to his members, Lynn said he asked Kenney to consider the "major adverse impact" the new rules are having on the ski and tourism industries in Western Canada.

"We strongly urge the government to consider modifications to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to accommodate the unique needs of our industry.

"Specifically, we require the ability to utilize this program to hire seasonal workers, at industry-level wages, and without the burden of high fees and administrative barriers."

Whether a job is considered high-skilled or low-skilled is no longer determined by a standardized list of occupations in the labour market but by whether the position falls above or below the provincial median hourly wage, which currently ranges from a low of $17.26 in P.E.I. to a high of $32.53 in the Northwest Territories. 

While the government has said the new system is "more objective and accurate," Lynn said there is some "ambiguity" around that. 

"There are concerns the simplistic system of 'high-wage, low-wage' doesn't take into account the skill level and it really doesn't take into account the total compensation, including things like bonuses and gratuities."​

Lynn said he has yet to receive an official response from Kenney.

Doctors in rural communities  

Those who recruit physicians say the rules have become so onerous it's becoming next to impossible for hospital and clinics to hire international doctors, particularly in rural communities where there are known shortages.

Under the new rules, the government has promised to process applications within 10 business days for employers who want to hire high-skilled, high-wage workers for four months or less a year.

'The rules are much different and I am concerned that we will not be able to continue to support these 16 physicians, not because we don’t need them, but because the program won’t allow us to continue.'—Joan Mavrinac, head of the regional physician recruitment office for Essex/Windsor 

Joan Mavrinac, the head of the regional physician recruitment office for Essex County, told CBC News it took four to six weeks for the government to process her applications last year, and the additional red tape will only add to the wait times.

She is worried the new rules will deter 16 doctors who live in Detroit but work in Windsor from continuing to work in Canada and discourage other American doctors from practising here.

Mavrinac said she has had to fill out multiple forms and pay multiple fees because the rules say she has to fill out an application for every location a doctor would be hired to work in — be it a hospital, a clinic or a nursing home. "Most physicians do not work in a single location," Mavrinac said. And because work permits are now only good for a one-year period, Mavrinac said, "In a year’s time, we’d have to begin the process again."

Mavrinac said she has complied with the rules and advertised the jobs in more than one job site, but never received a single application from a Canadian doctor looking for work. "No physician I’ve ever met would look for a job on the National Job Bank, nor would they be searching on Kijiji for a job."

"Now, the rules are much different, and I am concerned that we will not be able to continue to support these 16 physicians, not because we don’t need them, but because the program won’t allow us to continue," Mavrinac said.

'Serious economic impact'

Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, told CBC News he is also hearing similar complaints from employers who need to hire high-skilled workers across various sectors of the Canadian economy.

"We're hearing from one coast to another. We're hearing there's a real challenge for businesses to get their hands on the high-skilled people they need."

In a phone interview on Tuesday, Beatty said he is worried that ski resorts have yet to hear back from the minister in charge.

"I haven't heard of responses yet, and this is a concern to me, because obviously people are doing planning for the coming winter season … it's going to have a very serious economic impact in many communities across the country."

Beatty said that employers in the tech industry are also being affected by the new rules, which are making it harder for them to hire high-skilled workers such as software developers.

"There are other sectors as well that are having a hard time getting their hands on the people that they need and I hope the government will give a priority to saying: where there are skills that are missing in Canada and where bringing in somebody from abroad would allow a business to be more successful, were to hire more Canadians as a result, we need to expedite this," Beatty said.

Onus on employers to show 'transition plans'

Janet Ecker, the president and CEO of Toronto Financial Services Alliance, was invited to take part in a stakeholder meeting with the immigration minister last week.

Ecker, whose group works with financial services companies located abroad but looking to do business in Toronto, said she told Alexander the new rules are making it more difficult for banks, insurance and pension funds companies to recruit the world's brightest and best talent.

"Our economy is dependent on the ability for talent to move readily in here when we need it, for companies who are located here to have access to global talent. So there's a very strong economic impetus here that can't be ignored."

Source:http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/temporary-foreign-workers-businesses-needing-skilled-workers-sideswiped-by-changes-1.2713279

Comment:

"I know for a number of our companies it's been very frustrating."

Ecker said both ministers have been receptive to these concerns, but they have yet to offer a solution.

A spokesperson for the minister would not say how Kenney intended to respond to these concerns, but told CBC News the onus is on employers to show the government they are taking steps to reduce the number of foreign workers they hire in high-wage jobs over the long-term.

"Transition plans will oblige employers of high-wage temporary foreign workers to help Canadians obtain in-demand skills through activities like investing in skills training or taking on more apprentices, or an employer can provide proof that they are helping a high-skilled temporary foreign worker transition to becoming a permanent resident of Canada," Alexandra Fortier said in an email, quoting directly from the new rules posted on the Employment and Social Development Canada website.

"It’s been a month since Jason Kenney tried to convince Canadians that there is no shortage of highly skilled workers in Canada.

Watching Kenney deal with the economic fall out of his June 20 nightmare has been predictable. So far, he has granted exemptions to musicians, actors and food service workers in parts of Labrador. He is fighting hard to ignore the foreign worker needs of provinces and employers across the country.

Kenney will fold on a sector by sector, region by region basis as he weighs the political fallout of each “exception “to his June 20 rules.

What is motivating Kenney’s economically irrational behavior? 

The conventional wisdom is that Kenney is sacrificing the economy because the Conservative party needs the votes of the 34% “base” for the 2015 federal election.

I belong to the Conservative party “base”. Most of my employer clients belong to the “base “. We can all accept that abusers of any rules, including economic immigrant rules, should be punished.

Nobody in the 34 % base believes that it is in the country’s, the party’s or Stephen Harper’s best interest to savage an economy which simply does not train enough skilled trades workers.

In January 2012 during the Davos economic summit, Prime Minister Harper clearly stated his priorities. Canada needs improved skills training. Since it takes time to develop skills training, it is important that Canada secure the right economic immigrants in order to bridge the skills gap required in building an economy.

The Prime Minister kept his word. He did what Prime Ministers are supposed to do. He asked the Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Operations to follow up on the government’s skills training and economic immigration programs. It is the responsibility of the Operations Committee to oversee the proper implementation of the Prime Minister’s stated policies.

So what happened?   

What happened is that the Prime Minister trusted Jason Kenney who in turn recommended Chris Alexander.

Kenney is Chair of the Operations Committee.

Kenney is also the Human Recourses Minister responsible for skills training   

Alexander is a member of the Operations Committee

Alexander is also Immigration Minister.

Kenney and Alexander have failed the Prime Minister.

Kenney took praise in the media for securing agreement among the provinces for  a skills training agenda. The problem is that the agreement secured by Kenney did not meet the Prime Minister’s mandate. The PM wants to train Canadians. Kenney wanted a public relations victory that made him look good, even if no Canadians were trained. Kenney claimed victory. The PM was defeated.

Score: Harper … O                 Kenney …1

Kenney’s record on economic immigration mirrors his accomplishments with skills training. A lot of tough talk leading to a strangled economy. The problem is that the economic immigrant policies promoted by Kenney and executed by Alexander do not meet the Prime Minister’s mandate. The PM wants immigrants who bridge the skills gap. Kenney wants a public relations victory that makes him look good.Kenney has claimed victory. The PM’s economic immigrant mandate has been defeated.

Score: Harper … O                 Kenney …2

So how is Kenney getting away with his self serving smoke and mirrors?

Kenney is assuring the Prime Minister and the party that his efforts are securing the “base” and thus assuring a majority Harper victory in 2015.

Is Kenney speaking truth to power?

A majority victory rests on two pillars:

First, a strong economy.

Second, a repeat of the party’s 2011 success in the GTA. 

I cannot comment on the state of the 2015 economy. The PM knows better than anybody.

But I can comment on the party’s chances in the GTA.

Kenney knows that he is lying to the PM and the party about the strength of the “base” in the GTA.  

Kenney knows that we are well below 2011 levels and crashing. Kenney’s policies assure that the party will not recover in the GTA for a generation.  He knows that the federal party results in the GTA will mirror the 2014 provincial results. He also knows that his self serving, systemic, abusive alienation of the crucial Chinese and Italian communities is at the core of the Prime Minister being refused a majority in 2015.

Kenney may be benefitting personally with his high profile support of the Falun Dong and Tibet separatism. 

Kenney may be benefitting personally by denying the existence of 15,000 illegal young Italians in Ontario alongside tens of thousands of illegal Portuguese. 

So why does Kenney deny the Prime Minister, harm the party and severely prejudice the economy while making himself look principled?  

Because Jason Kenney wants to be Prime Minister in 2016.

Kenney is drawing on a 20 year working friendship with the PM.

The PM truly believes that Kenney is protecting the Party’s “base”.

Kenney has high jacked the PM”s trust. He is protecting his own leadership campaign base.

As Kenney weakens Harper’s reputation on the economy and condemns him to infamy in the GTA. Kenney himself looks stronger. Strong on skills development. Strong on foreign workers. Forcing a “shared values” based immigration policy. Principled on Ukraine .Principled on Israel. Principled on human rights in China. Doubling immigration from Italy.

But Kenney’s ambitions have an Achilles heal.

A leadership campaign needs money.

We should worry about a leadership campaign being waged by a man who chairs a Cabinet Committee. This is why leadership aspirants are asked to leave the cabinet. Kenney won’t leave.

Leadership campaigns cost money.

Jason Kenney stays in cabinet while his leadership campaign has the gasoline to move.

Political donors demand political influence. Influence over policies such as economic immigration, national security and oil. Influence over appointments involving national security, oil and immigration.

The Prime Minister is an honest man. An economist seeking rational follow up on his economic policies.

It must be difficult for him having to accept advice from the Chair of a cabinet committee that he override national security concerns in making senior appointments and that he approve skills training and economic immigration policies that have no statistical basis.

While security and statistical realties are blindsided, associates of Arthur Porter, Gazprom, the FSB, Nate Jacobsen etc are all represented at the cabinet table.

It’s too bad that small trades businesses requiring skilled workers in the GTA cannot move the cash like Arthur Porter’s associates in Montreal, Nate Jacobsen’s night club associates in Tel Aviv and the FSB ‘s Gazprom associates in Moscow and Nevada. And then there are the others.

Back in 1982, I was not in favor of the formal introduction of the Constitution Act and the Charter of Rights. I believed that Parliament was the ultimate defender of “Peace, Order and Good Government”.

I still believe that Parliament should be the ultimate defender of our system.

Unfortunately, the country now needs the Charter to buy some time while some parliamentarians look in the mirror and examine their concept of public service.  

We will see Kenney and Alexander in Court."

Richard Boraks, July 24. 2014

Comment- Express Entry

"Effective January 2015:

• Employers will no longer be assured that they can hire their own workers.

Even if a company gets a contract approved for a specific worker, some official in Ottawa, and not the boss, wiil decide if the employer gets his selected worker or some body else deemed by the faceless, nameless, liability free bureaucrat to be “superior”

This means that no trades  employer will bother playing the stupid game called “Express Entry”.  

• No cement finisher, ethnic cook or any other tradesperson will become an immigrant under any federal program UNLESS THEY PASS THE CRAZY LANGUAGE EXAM  

Please note that Ottawa has not yet issued the formal regulations that will control the Express Entry program … what they are doing is preparing to go into the 2015 election hoping to mislead everybody by issuing a lot of self serving press releases

Interestingly, the only instruction from Parliament to the Immigration office is that their new Express Entry program must not exceed a little over 2,000 working families . 

This means that Ottawa is planning to eviscerate the present quota for the CEC and Trades classes and replace them with a greatly diminished quota with Express Entry

Our Court case, which is planned to be filed in September 2014 will attack the policies which form the basis of “Express entry”"

Richard Boraks, July 20, 2014

Express Entry

In January 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will launch a new electronic system called Express Entry to manage applications for permanent residence in certain economic programs. Canada needs high levels of immigration to meet current and future labour market needs, which will ensure our economic growth and long-term prosperity.

Express Entry will allow us to actively recruit, assess and select skilled immigrants under the following federal economic immigration programs:

• the Federal Skilled Worker Program,
• the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and
• the Canadian Experience Class.

Provinces and territories will also be able to recruit candidates from the Express Entry system for a portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs to meet local labour market needs. Under this new system, employers will also have a key role in selecting economic immigrants. Employers will access candidates through Canada's new and improved Job Bank and through provinces and territories where applicable.

The Express Entry system involves two steps:

Step 1) Potential candidates complete an online Express Entry profile

Potential candidates will complete an online Express Entry profile where they will provide information about their skills, work experience, language ability, education, and other details. Those who meet the criteria of one of the federal economic immigration programs subject to Express Entry will be placed in a pool of candidates.

Candidates will be ranked against others in the pool. Only the highest-ranked candidates (those deemed to have the best chances for economic success), and those with qualifying offers of arranged employment or provincial/territorial nominations, will be invited to apply for permanent residence.

If a candidate does not already have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer or a provincial/territorial nomination, he or she must register with the Government of Canada's Job Bank which will connect him or her with eligible Canadian employers.

Where applicable, employers will be required to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada. There will be no fee for Labour Market Impact Assessments for permanent residence applications under the Express Entry system. 

Completing an online Express Entry profile does not guarantee that a candidate will receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.

Step 2) Citizenship and Immigration Canada will invite certain candidates to apply for permanent residence and process their electronic applications within six months.

Candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence if they rank among the top in the pool, based on their skills and experience. Candidates who have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer (subject to the Labour Market Impact Assessment process in place at that time) or have been nominated by a province or territory will be given high scores in the ranking system.

Candidates will have 60 days to submit an electronic application for permanent residence through one of the following programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP);
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP);
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC); or,
• A portion of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Citizenship and Immigration Canada will process the majority of complete applications (i.e. applications including all the necessary supporting documents) within six months or less.

Candidates in the Express Entry pool who do not receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence after 12 months may resubmit their profile and re-enter the pool if they still meet the criteria. This provision will prevent backlogs and ensure quick processing times.

Express Entry will result in faster and more efficient service to potential skilled immigrants. It will also allow the Government of Canada to be more flexible and responsive to Canada's changing economic conditions and priorities.

This webpage will be updated on an ongoing basis.

Additional resources:

• News release – Gearing up for the launch of Express Entry
• News release – Preparing for the launch of "Express Entry"
• News release – Offering "Express Entry" to Qualified Economic Immigrants
• Express Entry factsheet for employers
• Presentation deck from employer engagement sessions
• CIC newsletter article: Information Sessions on “Express Entry” for Employers
• Backgrounder – Preparing for Success in 2015

 

Date Modified: 

2014-07-14

Skilled immigrants to be offered 'express entry' to Canada in 2015

By Susana Mas, CBC News Posted: Apr 22, 2014 5:17 PM ET Last Updated: Apr 22, 2014 7:06 PM ET

The Canadian government is forging ahead with a new immigration system that will offer "express entry" to qualified immigrants starting in 2015 as a way to help fill open jobs for which there are no available Canadian workers.

Express Entry, formerly known as Expression of Interest, will be "a swifter path to Canada that will select immigrants based on the skills and attributes that Canada needs based on those identified by government but also by employers," said Immigration Minister Chris Alexander during a news conference in Richmond Hill, Ont., on Tuesday.

While the change in the name of the program was quietly announced in a news release two weeks ago, the government has been remodelling Canada's immigration system for the last 18 months or so.

Alexander said Canadian employers would be able to bring in workers through the Express Entry system with the long-term view that they would remain in Canada.

"You can bring your labour market opinion, your job offer, to the Express Entry system and ensure that the person you need comes to Canada as an immigrant, not as a temporary foreign worker. Not as someone who is here with an uncertain future and likely to go back, but as a full immigrant to Canada," Alexander said on Tuesday.

"And that I think is going to be very exciting because it's going to make the match between our economic immigrants and their families, and the needs of the Canadian job market much stronger."

Finding 'a match'

Under Canada's new immigration system, which would come into effect on Jan. 1, 2015, prospective immigrants would apply to express their interest in coming to Canada. In doing so, they would answer a series of questions about their professional skills, their education, languages spoken, etc.

Those applicants would then see their skills matched with labour needs identified by the provinces and territories, as well as employers.

While the subject of skills shortages has been hotly debated, Alexander maintained, "there are many parts of the country that have acute skills shortages, there are many sectors that have acute skills shortages."

In those instances where "a match" has been identified, Express Entry could be offered to anyone who has put in an application through one of the following four programs:

• Federal skilled workers.
• Federal skilled trades.
• Canadian experience class.
• Business class.

Alexander said prospective immigrants who apply through the Provincial Nominee Program could also benefit from the system but only if the province and territory in question has brought their program under the federal one.

"Provinces and territories will take their own decisions. We're in close touch with them. We have their support for the Express Entry system, they're very excited about it. And those that choose to come in early will benefit greatly," Alexander said.

Having a valid job offer, or a provincial or territorial nomination would guarantee that Express Entry candidates receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

Other features

Under the new program:

• Canada will be able to select "the best candidates" who are most likely to achieve success in Canada, "rather than the first person in line."
• An improved Job Bank will make it easier to find matches between Canadian employers and Express Entry candidates.
• The government will invest $14 million over two years and $4.7 million per year ongoing to ensuring the successful implementation of Express Entry.
• Qualified applicants can expect faster processing times of six months or less when invited to come to Canada, down from a wait of up to two years.

NDP immigration critic Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe was critical of the new system, saying it, "will promote the exact queue-jumping the Conservatives say they are trying to combat."

“This new program will put applicants in limbo because they may never be given a definitive answer on their application,” said Blanchette-Lamothe in a written statement.

McCallum told CBC News today that Canada's current immigration system is "anything but express." The Liberal immigration critic said he would like to see the government explain how it will process these applications in six months or less.

Alexander was in Richmond Hill on Tuesday to mark "the record number" of Chinese students and permanent residents welcomed to Canada in 2013.

China was once again "a top source" country for permanent residency in Canada, Alexander said.

"This article confirms why the Ottawa government is trying to kill all trades immigration in 2014."

Richard Boraks, July 8, 2014

Business leaders call on Ottawa to reverse 'alarming slide' in skills training

The Canadian Press Posted: Jul 07, 2014 6:28 PM ET Last Updated: Jul 07, 2014 6:28 PM ET

A new report by the Canadian Council of Chief Executives being released ahead of this week's meeting of Canada's provincial education and labour ministers is calling on the federal government to lead and create a national education and skills training strategy. (David Moir/Reuters)

A new report is urging Ottawa to work with the provinces and industry to put a stop to what it calls an "alarming slide" in the quality of Canada's education and skills training.

A paper commissioned by the Canadian Council of Chief Executives is being released ahead of this week's meeting of Canada's provincial education and labour ministers and industry representatives in Charlottetown.

• Shortage of skilled workers could jeopardize the economy

The report says only the federal government can lead and create a national education and skills training strategy.

It urges Ottawa, the provinces and the territories to form a body that's responsible for learning and training, which would set targets for all learning phases.

The report recommends creating a separate body to keep track of how well the country is meeting its learning goals.

'Canada is slipping steadily'

The paper cites statistics from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and other sources that "point to the irrefutable conclusion that Canada is slipping steadily down the international learning curve."

"The report we are publishing this week recommends a formal federal-provincial body to oversee learning and training in Canada," council spokesman Ross Laver said in an email.

"Not everyone would go that far, but there's no question we need a lot more co-operation and collaboration between different levels of government."

He also lamented the fact the country's labour ministers have met only once in the past four years, to discuss a job grant proposal at the urging of federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney.

"The minister deserves a lot of credit for trying to get everyone around the same table," Laver said.

"The irony is that he and Canada's provincial education ministers are actually going to be staying this week in the same hotel in Charlottetown — yet for the past four months the education ministers have refused to meet him.

"How can Canada hope to maintain a world-class labour force when the people who are in charge of developing education and training policy won't talk to one another?"

Private sector urged to do its part

The report also says the private sector needs to invest in more programs and training for their employees. It contrasts the situation in Canada to that of Germany, where employers work with governments and educators to create a highly skilled labour force.

"The German system ensures close co-ordination and co-operation between levels of government and with social partners...," it says.

"The close involvement of employers and employees at the national and state level promotes a powerful sense of responsibility among corporations that is reflected in their commitment to skills upgrading in the workplace."

Kenney has spoken highly of the German apprenticeship system. Earlier this year, he led a delegation of Canadian politicians from five provinces, along with business and labour union representatives, on a trip to Germany and Great Britain to learn about their apprenticeship programs.

"This article gets to the bottom of why Canada needs foreign workers … Canadian taxpayers and business do not want to pay for the training of trades people… our infrastructure is collapsing .. we don’t train the workers to fix the problem …"

Richar Boraks, July 8, 2014

 

"JASON & THE PROVINCES

There is a story about a German, a Frenchman and English and a Canadian.

They were each asked to describe “the elephant”.

The German examined the use of the elephant in war.

The Frenchman described the sex life of the elephant.

The Englishman noted the role of the elephant in the empire.  

The Canadian asked the question:  The elephant… a federal or provincial responsibility?

Which gets us back to Jason Kenney.

On June 20, 2014 Jason and Chris Alexander took it upon themselves to rip up the “Temporary Worker Agreements” with Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, PEI, Nova Scotia etc.

Jason and Chris forgot that they do not control work permits… the provinces are equal partners in the work permit business.

See you in court."

Richard Boraks, July 4, 2014

"The attached article from the Toronto Polish newspaper, “Wiadomosci”, makes the point that Jason Kenney has put up “barriers” for “visitors” wishing to work in Canada"

Richard Boraks, July 3, 2014

"Kenney undeterred by business complaints"- Toronto Star. Thursday, June 26, 2014

Jason Kenney vows to push ahead with overhaul of temporary foreign worker program

Employment Minister Jason Kenney is undeterred by business complaints over temporary foreign worker overhaul.

SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO

Employment Minister Jason Kenney is pushing ahead with a dramatic overhaul to the temporary foreign worker program, undeterred by complaints from business groups that the changes go too far.

By: Vanessa Lu Business reporter, Published on Wed Jun 25 2014

Employment Minister Jason Kenney is pushing ahead with a dramatic overhaul to the temporary foreign worker program, undeterred by complaints from business groups that the changes go too far.

Kenney cited growing research that the program has distorted the labour market, keeping wages virtually frozen in Alberta’s food-services sector, even at a time when the cost of living has jumped dramatically in that booming region.

“Those are the distortions we want to prevent,” Kenney told reporters in Toronto after a Skills Summit brought together business groups, union leaders, and academics.

“We want to prevent that from spreading to other sectors and regions.”

Calling it a broken policy of the past, Kenney announced sweeping changes last week to the temporary foreign workers program that include inspections to stop abuses and stiffer fines, including jail terms, for violators.

Employers with 10 or more employees will be allowed to have only 10 per cent of their workforce made up of low-wage temporary foreign workers.

But business groups like the Canadian Chamber of Commerce have been vocal, arguing that “good politics may not be good policy.”

The chamber’s CEO Perrin Beatty said companies are now facing an increase in application fees from $275 to $1,000, and the time the temporary foreign workers can stay will be capped at two years, down from four.

“In many regions, it will simply be impossible,” Beatty said in an interview, noting none of the lower-skilled workers will be permitted in Toronto because the region’s unemployment rate is 7.3 per cent — above the 6 per cent threshold.

He argued the federal government screens applicants, has the power to grant permits as well as to shut down businesses that abuse the program.

“Legitimate businesses would be glad to see a crackdown on anybody who is abusing,” Beatty said. “Why we would want to punish people who were using the program for which it was designed is beyond me.”

Allan Odette, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, added that the issue has been politicized, and the new changes will have unintended consequences for businesses.

“This comes at a moment in time when the Ontario economy is still very fragile,” he said in an interview.

But Kenney insisted the issue isn’t about abuses to the program or the odd bad employer, but rather the simple fact that there are Canadians who can’t find work.

“There are adequate workers available in Canada for these kinds of low-skilled jobs,” Kenney said. “They may not all live in the right places.”

He went on to list young Canadians, aboriginals, persons with disabilities and newer immigrants, who are unemployed or underemployed.

“That’s our message to employers. We should put Canadians first,” Kenney said. “The temporary foreign worker program was always supposed to be, only a last, limited and temporary resort.

“It was never intended to be a business model.”

Data show that about 25,000 employers in Canada rely on temporary foreign workers. Of those, more than 6,000 use foreign workers for more than 10 per cent of their work force.

And in more than 1,100 workplaces, foreign workers make up at least half of all employees.

Kenney also hinted that the federal government is looking to reform the rules around the live-in caregiver program, later this year, due to abuses.

The program allows families to hire a live-in caregiver from overseas, often caring for children or seniors. And after two years, those caregivers can become eligible for permanent residence.

But Kenney said evidence from immigration officials suggest that as many as half of the participants in the program were coming to work for relatives in Canada.

As a result, applications ballooned and the waiting lists have grown to an unacceptable level, he added.

Syed Hassan and David Moffette, from the group No One Is Illegal, briefly disrupted the news conference, as they called for permanent immigration status for migrant workers.

“There is no permanent immigration for immigrants in the low-skilled sector,” Hassan said.

"JASON & BUSINESS

As predicted, it is now clear, that Ottawa and its chief spokesman Jason Kenney are anti business and anti economy.

The attached Toronto Star article confirms that this government is neither  conservative nor a believer in rational public policy. 

Rather than sit down and assure that the economy grows with the proper mix of highly qualified foreign and Canadian tradespersons, this government has abandoned any economic thought. Instead, Ottawa is fixated on pandering to the few, unskilled, bitter, and sometimes lazy locals who blame outsiders for their troubles.

This government faces an election in 2015. They have determined that they need votes from their “base”. Their “base includes those who fear change and lack the skills or work ethic to make something of themselves. To these scared individuals foreign workers are a good target.

The fact that unemployment will increase as businesses close for lack of skilled tradespersons is unimportant to this government …manipulation of fearful, unskilled voters trumps business sanity."

Richard Boraks, July 2, 2014