Ontario has turned down Ottawa’s proposal allowing rural employers in the province to hire more temporary foreign workers to meet their labor demands, pointing to youth unemployment and a commitment to its local workforce.
In a letter dated Thursday that was reviewed by , Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini informed Patty Hadju, Canada’s minister of jobs and families, that businesses in the province are “well positioned to recruit, train and retain the many young people who are available and eager to work.”
Piccini’s letter stated that the province will prioritize creating “conditions for businesses to invest, grow and create good-paying jobs for domestic workers, rather than continue policies that put employment further out of their reach.”
In March, the federal government announced plans to temporarily boost the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers that rural employers can hire due to ongoing labor shortages.
This increase is only allowed for “eligible” rural areas and relies on provinces and territories agreeing to adopt the new measures, as stated in the March news release.
The measures will remain active until March 2027.
CFIB Calls Decision Political Rather Than Practical
Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), commented that this decision from the provincial government seems like “good politics” but isn’t beneficial for the economy.
“There is almost no evidence to suggest that youth employment is being negatively affected by the number of temporary foreign workers that live in Ontario,” he said.
“For the most part, temporary foreign workers are filling jobs for which there are no Canadians available, [certainly] not Canadians that want those jobs.”
Canada’s temporary foreign worker program faced criticism after a post-COVID surge led some experts to argue it contributed to rising unemployment among immigrants and young people. This prompted former prime minister Justin Trudeau to reduce entry numbers for low-wage workers back to pre-pandemic levels.
WATCH | Ministers explain why Canada is changing its temporary foreign worker program:
Ministers explain why Canada’s changing its temporary foreign worker program
Minister of Immigration Marc Miller noted that changes must be approached cautiously so as not to push Canada into recession. Minister of Employment Randy Boissonnault expressed his unwillingness to see low-wage temporary foreign worker opportunities vanish in rural and remote Canada.
Kelly acknowledged it’s tough for youth searching for jobs; however, many federation members located in rural areas struggle with attracting young people “willing to take the job.”Poor Canadian youth participation was highlighted: “Canadian young kids, I’m sorry, they’re not signing up for jobs on farms. They’re not signing up for jobs at meat plants; they’re not going out planting trees like decades ago in rural locations,” he explained.
“My 17-year-old son in Toronto is not going move Timmins just take a job washing dishes at a pizza restaurant.”Pushing Out Migrant Workers May Worsen Economy: Advocate
Syed Hussan, executive director of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, warned that avoiding Ottawa’s suggested increase could lead to significant care issues across rural Ontario.
“Many temporary foreign workers employed in health care sectors providing support for aging populations can’t simply be replaced,” Hussan remarked.
“The more we keep blaming migrants or pushing them away while linking them solely with temporary status will worsen our overall economy,” he added.
Both Kelly and Hussan suggested federal and provincial governments explore pathways towards permanent residency or citizenship options for these temporary workers.
Timothy Lang from Youth Employment Services pointed out how finding jobs has become tougher than before for youth; now could be an opportunity worth encouraging them toward rural roles if they’re able.
“Historically speaking, we know there was definitely a need for temporary foreign workers in agricultural roles because Canadians weren’t filling those positions.”
“I genuinely believe it’s worth trying out ways encourage our Canadian youngsters into taking some of those positions.”
A statement released Friday by Piccini mentioned how this decision provides better chances for Ontario’s workforce.
“The answer isn’t expanding access low-wage temp foreign workers – it’s ensuring local talent gets necessary skills experience opportunities succeed,” he added.
An accompanying statement from Hadju’s office indicated support toward province’s choice.
“Ontario’s decision clarifies priorities regarding domestic workforce needs among employers,” concluded statement from her office.
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