Kenny Suspends Program After NDP Called For Moratorium The Controversial Program
Employment Minister Jason Kenney was left with no choice but to suspend the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW) after negative media coverage of foreigners taking over Canadians’ jobs and pressure from the opposition NDP, which called for a moratorium on the use of the Program. Many Canadian businesses have been accused of exploiting workers and abusing the program by bringing in foreign workers and then taking their passports and controlling them, not paying them and in some cases in the South Asian community, actually making money by “smuggling” people in under the program by charging them upwards of $50,000.
By R. Paul Dhillon
With News Files
VICTORIA –After negative media reports into the controversial Temporary Foreign Worker Program hit the air, particularly a CBC investigation report, the federal NDP called for a moratorium on the use of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for lower-skilled jobs, prompting Employment Minister Jason Kenney to quickly enact the moratorium on the food service sector’s access to temporary foreign workers Thursday.
NDP had said the program should be suspended until the Conservative government finds a way to stop the blatant abuses of the program.
“The bottom line is, there are people living here in Canada who are being laid off or having their hours cut to facilitate the use of foreign workers – this needs to end immediately,” said NDP critic of Employment and Social Development Jinny Sims (Newton—North Delta). “Even McDonald’s has taken action – why hasn’t the government?”
After the media reports regarding its use of the TFW Program, McDonald’s put a moratorium on hiring temporary foreign workers, and has called in a third party to review the program.
New Democrats are asking why the Minister of Employment and Social Development hasn’t taken action.
“Canadians deserve swift action from the government,” said Sims, who was joined in Victoria by fellow NDP MPs Murray Rankin (Victoria) and Randall Garrison (Esquimalt). “We are asking them to halt the program and call an immediate independent review.”
Kenney was left with no choice but to act even though he tried to come across as being hard on the food and services industry which heavily relies on TFW but also has been accused of being exploitative and abusing the program by bringing in foreign workers and then taking their passports and controlling them, not paying them and in some cases in the South Asian community, actually making money by “smuggling” people in under the program by charging them upwards of $50,000.
“Our Government has been clear: Canadians must have the first chance at available jobs. We have repeatedly warned employers that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program must only be used as a last and limited resort when Canadians are not available,” Kenney the minister in a statement.
As a result, I am announcing an immediate moratorium on the Food Services Sector’s access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the feds will stop processing new applications immediately.
“Accordingly, ESDC [Employment and Skills Development Canada] will not process any new or pending LMO applications related to the Food Services Sector. In addition, any unfilled positions tied to a previously approved LMO will be suspended,” Kenney added.
Before the program was suspended Thursday, an audio of John Betts, CEO of McDonald’s Canada, surfaced, where he’s heard saying recent criticism of its use of temporary foreign workers is “bullshit” in a conference call to franchisees that was given to the CBC.
“This has been an attack on our brand. This has been an attack on our system. This is an attack on our people. It’s bullshit OK! I used those words when I described my conversation with the minister last week. He gets it,” Betts is heard telling franchisees.
Three McDonald’s franchises in Victoria and a pizza restaurant in Weyburn, Sask., are at the centre of program abuse allegations involving Canadian employees alleging foreign workers were given priority work status or more hours, reported CBC.
But Betts was talking highly of Kenney at the time, saying he was “incredibly impressed” with the minister, adding, “He really knows his stuff. And I’ll say he knows his stuff from a business person’s perspective.”
Responding sarcastically to how his company has been portrayed in the media, Betts said, “The fact of the matter is we are a big bad company, corporate, you know, bad company and these poor maligned employees are who they are.”
“Yes, they are disenfranchised. Some of them don’t work for us anymore. But in the scheme of things, it doesn’t matter.”
In a statement released Thursday, McDonald’s Canada said it acted “swiftly and forcefully” to investigate allegations some of its restaurants have misused the foreign workers’ program.
“We do not tolerate any misuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, any breach of employment standards or any infractions of any kind against our employees,” the statement said.
During Tuesday’s conference call with McDonald’s Canada’s CEO, one franchisee in Alberta expressed concern about employees — temporary foreign workers — who won’t be able to get their work permits renewed.
Another franchisee was worried about money he had just paid to Actyl, one of the international recruitment agencies McDonald’s pays up to $2,000 for every worker they bring in, reported CBC
