Several activist groups across Alberta and throughout the country went ahead with protests against the federal temporary foreign workers program over the past several weeks, voicing concerns that Canadians are not treated fairly in the service and trades industries.
Brian O'Donnell and Reid Paquette are two regular working Canadians. After news first broke earlier this year that 65 iron workers at Imperial Oil's Kearl Lake project had lost their jobs to temporary foreign workers coming in from Croatia, they decided enough was enough.
And so the ‘Canadian's Against the Temporary Foreign Workers Program' was born. The movement has garnered much attention on social media and late last month organized a provincial rally in downtown Edmonton for members to air their grievances regarding organizations that abuse the federal program.
Speaking to the Nouvelle last week, O'Donnell said that while he was “definitely not” against temporary foreign workers coming to Canada, he wanted to see the program “rebuilt from the bottom up” so as to avoid any company taking advantage of the “many loopholes” in the program.
“I think the biggest issue right now, not only in Alberta, but throughout Canada is that while there are so many employers following the temporary foreign worker program properly, the way it was intended to be followed, there are a lot of people and a lot of organization's that aren't following the rules and are really taking advantage of the system,” O'Donnell said.
He added, “The whole program is full of loopholes. While I'm definitely not against these people coming into this country to try and better their lives, something needs to be done to ensure Canadians are treated fairly in the Canadian workforce.”
The rally was attended by roughly 300 people, and included speeches by provincial MLAs Rachel Notley and David Eggen, Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan and Wildrose MP for Edmonton – Strathcona Linda Duncan.
Paquette admitted he was slightly surprised by the way the movement has taken off in recent months, but drove home the point that all he wanted to see was some indication that the federal government is willing to look into the possibility of strengthening and governing the popular program.
“What we're trying to achieve through this rally and through our Facebook page is awareness,” Paquette said. “People need to be aware of this program and all the issues surrounding it because it's directly having an impact on the lives of Canadians.”
To date, there are roughly half a million temporary foreign workers in Canada and 86,000 in the province of Alberta. Paquette said that with 1.4 million Canadians currently unemployed throughout the country, he didn't necessarily see a need to bring in temporary workers from abroad, while O'Donnell said if things don't change he sees a “very bad future” for Canadians.
“What really concerns us is the way some, and I stress some, Canadians are being treated in our workforce. These people are being (forced out) of their jobs to make room for (cheaper alternatives) and it isn't right. With 1.4 million Canadians currently unemployed, maybe we should be looking towards offering them work before bringing in more temporary foreign workers,” Paquette said.
Minister of Skills, Jobs, Training and Labour Thomas Lukaszuk leapt to the defense of the federal program when he spoke to the Nouvelle last week, saying that while he accepts the program isn't perfect, it's all the country has right now as a way of addressing “definite” labour shortages.
“The problem with some of the information sent out by groups like this is that it simply is not accurate. I find these people are more so speaking on emotion rather than having a fact based discussion,” Lukaszuk said. “The only reason we have a temporary foreign worker program in this country is because there is a genuine shortage of workers.”
Lukaszuk highlighted several conversations he has had industry leaders throughout the province concerned because they can't attract enough workers to properly run their businesses.
“The Alberta Motor Transport Association, which represents all the trucking companies in Alberta, is currently short about 7,000 drivers. The Motor Dealers Association is at a point where it is limiting vehicle sales because they don't have enough employees or mechanics to service the vehicles for warranties,” Lukaszuk said. “When I talk to Restaurants Canada, there are chains of restaurants that are not opening up new locations simply because they can't staff it.”
He added, “One thing I do agree with these people on is we should always be considering Canadians for these jobs first, that is our policy. But the fact remains that even if every single Albertan were employed, we'd still be short of workers. We have 86,000 temporary foreign workers in this province right now and fewer than 30,000 on welfare, so the numbers don't add up.”
“There's clearly a need for the temporary foreign workers program. Is it a perfect program? No. But it's all we have at the moment,” said Lukaszuk.
It was announced on Sunday that the federal government had revoked or suspended three employers' permits in British Columbia to hire workers through the temporary foreign workers program after the businesses were found to be in violation of the federal program.
Three McDonald's locations in Victoria have been banned from using the program pending the outcome of an investigation following claims from disgruntled Canadian employees that the store's temporary foreign workers were regularly given more hours because they were earning less money than the Canadian workers.
The government has also temporarily suspended permits for 59077 Newfoundland and Labrador Limited, owner of Jungle Jim's Restaurant, Greco Pizza and Captain Sub in Labrador City, Newfoundland, while The Boathouse Restaurant in Fenelon Falls, Ontario had its permits permanently revoked.
In a written statement issued Sunday evening, federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney said the government “will not tolerate any abuse of the temporary foreign worker program” and that “any employer found to have broken the rules will face serious consequences.”
“Our message to employers is clear and unequivocal: Canadians must always be first in line for available jobs,” Kenney added.
The federal government brought in legislation last month in its budget implementation bill that would allow it to impose heavy penalties on businesses that abuse the program. It also implemented a series of new rules on Dec. 31 that includes a two-year ban for employers who are found to break the rules, with their name and address placed on a public “blacklist”.
Other measures include the ability to review employer compliance for up to six years from the first day of employment of a temporary foreign worker, on-site workplace visits at any time without a warrant, except in the case of private dwellings and the power to revoke or suspend work permits already issued.
MLA for Bonnyville – Cold Lake Genia Leskiw admitted that while she could perhaps see where the complaints of those in opposition of the program were coming from, there was still a “definite need” for temporary foreign workers in Alberta.
“Our foreign workers here in this region have provided us with services where Canadians either can not, or will not,” Leskiw said. “If we can supply jobs for all of our Canadians, then of course they should get first refusal on the job, I don't think anybody is disputing that point. But when our regular workers want to work out on the oil patch, who's going to work in the service industry or our grocery stores?”
She added, “The truth is we need these people. Without them, our region and to a greater extent our province simply would not (be able to operate).”
