Trudeau must stand up for Canadians dependent on U.S. work: NDP

The Liberal government must stand up for Canadians being turned away at the border who depend on work in the United States

OTTAWA – New Democrats are urging Prime Minister Trudeau to stand up for Canadians workers who depend on work in the United States. The US is now preventing Canadians from crossing the border even though they have valid non-immigrant NAFTA professional visas (TN visas).

“It is completely unacceptable that Canadian workers, with work visas, are being stopped at the border and prevented from going to work. An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Canadians work in the US with TN visas and our Prime Minister needs to assure these Canadians that they will still be able to cross over to do their jobs,” said Tracey Ramsey, NDP Critic for Trade. “These specialized workers are experts in their fields that depend on the work they do in the United States. Canadian livelihoods are at stake.”

Earlier this week, nurses in Windsor were turned away at the border and told their working visas were no longer valid to work in the United States. All Canadian nurses wishing to work in the US can apply for TN visas (a fast tracked visa) provided they have a job offer from employers in the United States. There has been no legislative change to these special visas but suddenly, the interpretation has changed under the current administration.

“Since Trump's first attempt at a discriminatory immigration ban, the Trudeau government has remained silent out of fear that standing up for Canadians could endanger jobs. But now Trump's immigration policies directly impact Canadian jobs,” added Jenny Kwan, NDP Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. “Canadians who have legitimate work visas are being denied entry and told their visas are no longer valid. It is unacceptable that the Liberals continue to remain silent. What more will it take before Trudeau finally stands up for Canadian interests?"