Conservatives knew TFWs were taking Canadian jobs

OTTAWA – New Democrats voiced outrage today after reports surfaced showing how the Conservatives were aware that their changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) were making it easier for companies to bring in foreign labour – at the cost of Canadians’ jobs. Despite the warnings, Conservatives chose to do nothing.

“The Conservatives knew this program was being abused, but instead of taking action to protect Canadian jobs, they chose to sit on the information for over a year,” said NDP Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism critic Jinny Sims (Newton–North Delta). “Time and time again we’ve seen the Conservatives fail to do the right thing until the information goes public and forces their hand. Canadians deserve better.”

The CBC obtained May 2012 briefing notes for Human Resources and Skills Development Minister Diane Finley indicating that Albertan employers had received permission to hire 1,261 food counter attendant positions while 350 Albertans who had made Employment Insurance claims had similar work experience.

“The Conservatives are following in the Liberals’ footsteps, and their policies have been a complete failure,” said Deputy Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism critic Sadia Groguhé (Saint-Lambert). “Their changes to the TFW Program are more about suppressing wages than filling labour shortages.”