RE: Temporary Foreign Workers
I hear your complaints all the time. “The money doesn't stay here. They steal jobs from Canadian workers. They are just here for a buck, and they contribute nothing to society. They are a drain on our resources. Heck, they need to learn our language.”
On any given day I hear any number of these complaints, and I cringe. I wonder if you know that an ugly, slightly racist side of you slipped out. I wonder; would you think that if you really understood what was going on? If instead of buying into the media hype, if perhaps you took just a few minutes to get properly informed; would you too cringe at what you said too?
It is a fact that yes, some of their money is sent home to their families. You are right, that money will no longer stimulate our economy. I wrestle with the hypocrisy of that. I, myself, have went on trips outside of the country to shop, either online or in the flesh. Most of you have too. The hypocrisy lies in us not having to answer to anyone about how we decide to spend our money. Why is it my business what my neighbour does with his money? No one makes me account for my dollars spent in another country save for the duty I pay to do that. So why are we so threatened by a foreign worker spending their hard earned money the way they feel fit?
Do you know that most of our jobs in the fast food industry are advertised across Canada – it is mandatory. We have to give Canadians every opportunity to come to Alberta to fill the jobs that we have, but very few come. I am not sure why people won't try for a better life in Alberta. It always seemed to me that if they can't make ends meet elsewhere in Canada, Alberta is a viable option. I know some very brave foreign workers who traveled across the world to come and work fast food in Bonnyville. I thank God for them every single day. I thank God that I work for employers that treat everyone in their business the same and give us each, equal opportunities to be successful. I know that there are companies out there that have taken advantage of the Foreign Worker program, but not every company has done that. Sadly the government is treating every company like criminals and that is insulting to me. I thought it was innocent until proven guilty; but our business has been treated like the McDonald's franchise or the RBC Bank. We are decidedly nothing like them.
That aside, did you know that they have to pay all of the same taxes that we do? They pay for rent, utilities, groceries, medical, and dental; there are no free rides here. They work so hard for everything that they have. As a very proud Canadian I respect that. We being descendants of immigrants; should respect that. It is not easy coming to a foreign country to give your family new life. I wonder how many of us would be here, if the policies that our government have in place now were instituted back when Canada becoming a country was only a pipe dream.
If you take away our foreign workers, do you know what will happen to our northern communities? Do you know how quickly things would grind to a halt? We simply do not have enough workers to do all of the jobs that we have here in northern Alberta. Businesses are already closing doors, or modifying hours simply because we won't have anyone to provide the service. We will be losing jobs by the hundreds, possibly thousands. The afterschool jobs that were once plentiful for out teenage workers will dry up, because running a business after 4 p.m. will not be cost effective.
The government's actions aren't righting the wrongs of a few greedy businesses. They are crippling our northern Alberta businesses on a grander scale. Minister Kenney I invite you to come out to our area and actually become familiar with our unique situation.
Now I would like to say a few words to moaners, groaners, and eye rollers, that can't stand being served by foreign workers. Just because they ask questions to make sure that they have your order right does not mean that they don't understand the language. It means that they are being careful and precise. That is what everyone wants isn't it? Great service with no mistakes.
Northern Alberta, I fear that we are on our own; with too many jobs and not enough people to work them. Worse still, we have a government that could care less about our plight.
Sherry Waldner and Anita Clough
Bonnyville and Elk Point residents
