Two weeks on from the controversial news that the federal government would be suspending all applications for its temporary foreign workers program in the restaurant and fast-food industry and I think it's safe to say that many of us here in Bonnyville are starting to worry about the effects this decision may have moving forward.
Following months and months of back and forth between the government and several provincial and federal lobby groups regarding the much-maligned program, Federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney decided the best course of action for Canadians would be to temporarily shut down the program. Was it the best course of action though? Was it really?
As we reported in last week's edition of the Nouvelle, the effects this decision can have on the local service industry could be disastrous. Due to the economic climate in this region, local businesses are forced to lean on temporary foreign workers as a way of ensuring they have enough staff to keep their doors open and offer a service to those that call Bonnyville home.
After speaking to several individuals involved in the service industry in town, it's clear for me to see they are scared. They're worried, and for good cause. This decision from the federal government means some of these businesses may have to close their doors for good in the coming months.
And why? That's a question I've been asking myself quite a lot as I've been formulating these stories over the past number of weeks. With this decision, the federal government has failed to take into account the catastrophic effects a decision such as this could have on Albertans.
Alberta is different from Canada's 12 other provinces and territories. Unlike Ontario, or Quebec, Alberta doesn't have Canadians it can call on to come in and work in the service industry. That's the reason for the number of temporary foreign workers in this province – it isn't because employers prefer to employ them, it's because they have no other choice than to employ them.
My opinion on the whole matter remains that the federal government grew tired of all the negativity surrounding a program that admittedly does have its flaws, but rather than specifically address some of the issues that have come to light in recent months, they went to the extreme and essentially shut the program down as a way of saving face and basically ensuring we don't hear about any other instances of businesses abusing the program.
It's a shame that it's always the minority that ruins it for the majority. If we were to actually look at and have access to every business using the temporary foreign workers program in Canada, I'd feel fairly comfortable saying only a very, very small percentage could be seen as abusing it.
Shutting the program down and essentially punishing those that have done nothing but abide by the rules and invest in communities just like Bonnyville, in my opinion, is wrong. I think the ball now falls at the feet of the everyday Canadian to lobby and speak up about this situation. Let the government know how you feel, because if you don't the services we've all come to expect may not be around for much longer.
