Latest news with #TemporaryForeignWorker
Global News
02-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
‘Our town's going to collapse': Northern B.C. businesses demand Ottawa revisit immigration, work permit cuts
Community leaders in Northern B.C. are demanding action from Ottawa to address a workforce crisis they claim is threatening businesses. Prince Rupert is home to the third largest port in the country and, according to the Community Futures Development Corporation, offers unionized jobs which allow young people to move up quickly and afford a house within three years. But executive director John Farrell says the local economy in the northwest coast city of 14,000, is at risk due to federal government changes to immigration and work permit policies. 'Right now, we have two permits that are under siege,' Farrell told the business community at a Northern BC Call to Action session on June 25. The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, which fuels the service industry, and provides 90 per cent of the staff at Farrell's restaurant, Opa Sushi and the international student program, recently underwent significant cuts. Story continues below advertisement International students he said, are no longer going through the program at the local college. 'That pipeline was cut by the federal government,' Farrell told Global News in an interview. 2:15 B.C. ironworkers union pitching change to foreign workers program amid U.S. tariff threats In 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada capped study permit applications in an effort to ease the strain on housing, health care and other services – a measure it said has reduced the number of incoming international students by about 40 per cent. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy As of Sept. 26, 2024, employers can hire no more than 10 per cent of their total workforce through the TFW program, and workers can only stay for one year instead of two. 'We're capped, we can't bring any more workers in,' said Farrell. 'So once a worker leaves, we're just that much further down the hole.' Story continues below advertisement At the local McDonald's, temporary foreign workers make up more than 60 per cent of the workforce. 'The domestic workforce just simply is not available,' manager Michael Seabrook told the community meeting June 25. 'These individuals are not just filling positions, they're the reason our business is able to operate day in and day out.' 2:09 Canada's internal government polls reveal attitudes on immigration At Ray Pedersen's construction company, most of the employees are foreign workers on temporary VISAs. 'My business would disappear overnight and all my customers would be disappointed if we didn't have the guys we need to deliver the service they need,' said the Pedersen-Gruppen Enterprises CEO. 'If we don't stem these policies and actually think about the northwest of B.C. as different, then really our town's going to collapse,' warned Farrell. Story continues below advertisement Farrell said the community is asking the federal government to reconsider the impact of the immigration and TFW policies, and will be sending a formal 'Northern BC Call to Action' document to Parliament on behalf of the region. 'Given the immense wealth that we generate in the northwest, it doesn't make economic sense for Ottawa to be punishing us so severely,' Farrell told Global News.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Revised Canadian policy eases job transitions for foreign workers
In a significant move aimed at better utilizing the skills of temporary foreign workers already within the country, the Canadian government has introduced a new temporary public policy. This initiative that was signed on March 4, comes into force from May 27. It allows foreign nationals in Canada to change jobs more quickly, even before their new work permit application is fully processed. Previously, foreign workers seeking to switch employers or occupations often faced lengthy delays, sometimes several weeks, while awaiting a new work permit. This waiting period led to financial instability for workers and frustration for Canadian employers keen to fill urgent labour and skills gaps. Now, temporary foreign workers already in Canada, who have a job offer either through the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program or the International Mobility Program can begin their new roles more quickly The Canadian government acknowledges that temporary foreign workers play a vital role in the Canadian economy. However, circumstances can arise where an existing employment contract is no longer viable. This could be due to various reasons, such as a new role with the same employer, layoffs, workplace conflict, or simply the pursuit of better compensation or professional growth opportunities with a different company. "It is imperative to better utilize the skills and training of the temporary foreign workers already here," states a recently updated post on the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). "This policy offers workers a viable and timely alternative to change employers if they need to do so" adds the post. Speaking to the TOI, Kubeir Kamal, a regulated Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC) said, 'The temporary public policy from IRCC, allows temporary foreign workers, including many from the Indian community, to change employers without needing a new work permit while their application is processed. This would specifically apply to the closed work permit holders in Canada.' 'Indian workers, who form a significant portion of Canada's temporary foreign workforce (over one lakh work permits were issued to Indian nationals in 2022), often hold employer-specific (close) work permits in sectors like IT, healthcare, caregiving, and agriculture. This policy allows them to switch jobs without waiting for a new permit, reducing downtime and enabling pursuit of better opportunities, such as higher-paying roles or positions with career advancement,' he added. Meanwhile, Jamil Jivani, a member of the Canadian Parliament from the Conservative party, apparently acting suo moto, has launched a petition to end the TFW Program. He blames it for high immigration numbers, taking jobs from Canadians, lowering wages and putting an additional burden on infrastructure. The re-elected Liberal party in August last year had announced restrictive measures for hiring temporary foreign workers. These included a cap on the number of TFWs that can be hired, and reduction in the duration of employment for workers hired under the low-wage stream to one year, from two years.
Economic Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
After housing and job crisis, Canadian MP launches petition to end temporary foreign worker program
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani started a petition to end the Temporary Foreign Worker program. He said the TFW program is a big reason immigration is too high, and it's taking jobs from Canadians and lowering wages, as per reports. In a social media video, Jivani blamed high immigration for doctor shortages, crowded hospitals, housing problems, and fewer jobs for Canadians. He said people can see these problems everywhere like not enough hospital beds, hard to find a doctor, houses are too few, and jobs are scarce. Jivani said in Parliament it's hard to have a 'sensible conversation' about immigration now. He said his petition doesn't include farm workers. He wants a different program for seasonal farm jobs. One reason for this petition is high youth unemployment. In April, unemployment for 15 to 24-year-olds was 14%, as per the Statistics Canada's May 2025 jobs report. Last year, the federal government already said they will cut back the number of TFWs. They said they won't process TFW applications in cities with more than 6% unemployment, according to a Canadian Press report. From 2025 to 2027, the plan is to allow 82,000 temporary workers into Canada each year. Employment Minister Patty Hajdu responded by pointing out that Jivani is not in the Conservative shadow cabinet. She said if Jivani had been briefed by his party, he'd know they already reduced the TFW program. Hajdu also said the government is talking to labour and industry groups for more changes. She said the TFW program does NOT replace Canadian workers and is important for farms and tourism, as per reports. Jivani seems to be doing this petition on his own. He doesn't have an official role as an immigration or jobs critic in the party. The actual Conservative critics for immigration and employment are Michelle Rempel Garner and Garnett Genuis. The Conservative Party has not commented yet, as mentioned in The Canadian Press report. Q1. What is Jamil Jivani's petition about?He wants to end the Temporary Foreign Worker program in most sectors.Q2. Is the foreign worker program still being run by the Canadian government? Yes, but they are limiting it in cities with high unemployment.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
After housing and job crisis, Canadian MP launches petition to end temporary foreign worker program
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani started a petition to end the Temporary Foreign Worker program . He said the TFW program is a big reason immigration is too high, and it's taking jobs from Canadians and lowering wages, as per reports. In a social media video, Jivani blamed high immigration for doctor shortages, crowded hospitals, housing problems, and fewer jobs for Canadians . He said people can see these problems everywhere like not enough hospital beds, hard to find a doctor, houses are too few, and jobs are scarce. Jivani said in Parliament it's hard to have a 'sensible conversation' about immigration now. He said his petition doesn't include farm workers. He wants a different program for seasonal farm jobs. One reason for this petition is high youth unemployment. In April, unemployment for 15 to 24-year-olds was 14%, as per the Statistics Canada's May 2025 jobs report. Last year, the federal government already said they will cut back the number of TFWs. They said they won't process TFW applications in cities with more than 6% unemployment, according to a Canadian Press report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dental Implant Bagong Silang Cost Might Be More Affordable Than Ever! Dental implant | Search Ads Learn More Undo From 2025 to 2027, the plan is to allow 82,000 temporary workers into Canada each year. Employment Minister Patty Hajdu responded by pointing out that Jivani is not in the Conservative shadow cabinet. She said if Jivani had been briefed by his party, he'd know they already reduced the TFW program. Hajdu also said the government is talking to labour and industry groups for more changes. She said the TFW program does NOT replace Canadian workers and is important for farms and tourism, as per reports. Jivani seems to be doing this petition on his own. He doesn't have an official role as an immigration or jobs critic in the party. The actual Conservative critics for immigration and employment are Michelle Rempel Garner and Garnett Genuis. The Conservative Party has not commented yet, as mentioned in The Canadian Press report. Live Events FAQs Q1. What is Jamil Jivani's petition about? He wants to end the Temporary Foreign Worker program in most sectors. Q2. Is the foreign worker program still being run by the Canadian government? Yes, but they are limiting it in cities with high unemployment.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pilots' union calls WestJet's use of Temporary Foreign Worker program 'problematic'
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) is calling out WestJet Airline Ltd.'s use of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, and the government's approval of the company's application, to fill vacancies during what the industry says is a pilot labour shortage. Tim Perry, who leads the Canadian arm of the group, said the pilots union is deeply concerned that WestJet is citing an inability to attract Canadian pilots to its airline as the rationale for hiring temporary foreign pilots. 'Their request to hire foreign pilots is problematic and short-sighted and will cause irreparable damage to labour relations,' he said on Friday. The pilots union said WestJet's management team has failed to address the issue of career progression and job security for pilots within the company. It said there are more practical solutions to attracting and retaining skilled professional pilots that do not involve utilizing the program. ALPA, which represents 95 per cent of professional Canadian pilots, reached a collective bargaining agreement with WestJet in May 2023, bumping its pilots' pay by 24 per cent over four years. At the time, several North American airlines were also set for negotiations with pilots amid labour shortages. The group said there should be considerations required when assessing highly skilled, licensed, unionized workers employed under terms set out through collective bargaining. Flair cancels summer Nashville route as state blames trade war Ottawa lays out path for pensions to invest in Canada's airports 'As we have said before, ALPA Canada supports legal immigration, which includes a stable pathway to citizenship, with labour mobility rights. However, we do not support the status of these employees in Canada when it is under the control and subject to the whims of an employer,' Perry said. • Email: dpaglinawan@ Sign in to access your portfolio
