Sapper Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/temporary-foreign-worker-program-for-fast-food-sector-suspended-by-ottawa-1.2621385 Employment Minister Jason Kenny has announced an immediate moratorium on the fast-food industry's access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The suspension, announced late Thursday afternoon, came shortly after the CBC told Kenney the CEO of McDonald's Canada had branded recent criticism of its use of temporary foreign workers "bullshit" in a conference call to franchisees. A recording of that call was given to the CBC. In a written statement announcing the suspension, Kenney says "serious concerns" remain following a government investigation of the allegations raised about the program. The CBC's Go Public has produced a series of stories reporting how some franchisees at McDonald's were allegedly abusing the program. Listen to McDonald's CEO conference call Kenney says the government investigated and suspended Labour Market Opinions (LMOs) that allowed a few employers to hire temporary foreign workers. And he says the employers were also placed on a public blacklist. "Despite these actions, there remain serious concerns regarding the use of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in the food services sector," Kenney says. "As a result, I am announcing an immediate moratorium on the food services sector's access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Accordingly, ESDC 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 issues warning The employment minister is also issuing a warning that program violations could be subject to criminal sanctions. "Abuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program will not be tolerated," the statement says. "Allegations of misuse will continue to be investigated...and those employers who are found to have lied about their efforts to hire Canadians could face potential criminal prosecution with sanctions that include fines and jail time." A study by the C.D. Howe Institute found the program has increased the unemployment rate by nearly four per cent in British Columbia and Alberta, two provinces which have employed more temporary foreign workers than the rest of the country combined, in every year since 2007. Kenney says the moratorium will remain in effect until his department completes its review. On mobile? Click here to hear McDonald's CEO conference call ************************************************************************************************************************* Also a report that the TFW program has increased unemployement http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/temporary-foreign-worker-program-linked-to-joblessness-report-1.2620551 ############################################################################### Well its about time. These companies have contributed to the downslide of the middle class by artificially keeping wages low and the ripple effect that causes. When these companies can't fill jobs at or near minimum wage locally they have been permited to bring in TFW's. In fact low wage offers should have NEVER been permited as a reason to bring in TFW's. If a company can't get applicants at minimum wage - raise the wages!. Only if the company can't hire workers at double minimum wage should they ever be allowed to bring a TFW. By permitting these abuses of this system the goverment had contributed to the lowering of wages in a market that demanded hire wages. Not being able to find workers at minimum wage IS NOT A REASON TO BRING IN TFW's. Posting jobs at a living wage of atleast $16 per hour and still not getting any applicants is the only valid reason to access this program. Think of the money in lost tax revenue. If these companies had to raise wages to meet local standards those workers would earn enough to live - pay taxes instead of being recipents of social assistance and other goverment hand outs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offensive Threat Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Listen to McDonald's CEO conference call An A&W ad played before the audio. I thought that was pretty funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surtur Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Pay a fair wage and they will come. Or if you can't pay a fair wage you shouldn't be in business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I wonder who is more at fault here... the employers for taking advantage of this program, or the federal government that created the program in the first place? Could they really not see this coming? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grapefruits Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Good, now get rid of it all together. Ship all the TFW out of Canada and hire Canadians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lillooet_Hillbilly Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I wonder all those temporary workers they brought in from china to work at that coal mine will stay while 700 just got laid off and are now looking for work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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