Airlines’ use of foreign pilots costing Canadian jobs

OTTAWA – Canadian pilots are yet another group to suffer job losses as a result of the Conservatives’ mismanagement of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

“Due to the Conservatives’ failure to manage this program, some banks, airlines, restaurants and mines have been able to bring foreign workers into Canada and pay them less than they would Canadian workers,” said NDP Labour critic Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont – La Petite-Patrie). “How can they justify hiring foreign pilots to work for Canadian airlines, when Canadian pilots are having to go abroad to find work?”

In order for foreign workers to be brought into Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) must provide a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) that no Canadian workers are available. Between September and October 2012, 119 positive LMOs were issued from HRSDC which led to the hiring of pilots from abroad. The TFWP was intended to balance the needs of Canadian workers and businesses. However, the Conservatives have failed in their responsibility to prevent it from being abused.

“Since 2002, the foreign worker program has tripled in size and recent changes, which include allowing businesses to pay foreign workers 15 per cent less than Canadians for the same job, have more to do with keeping wages down than filling any labour shortages,” said NDP Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism critic Jinny Sims (Newton – North Delta).