Review Temporary Foreign Workers Program-Alberta Immigration Minister

Canada, 24th July: Alberta immigration minster Thomas Lukaszuk has stated that the federal government must reconsider changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program.

The minister also asserted on the need for keeping foreign workers in Alberta who have proved their skills here and help them become permanent workers in Alberta.

Changes in temporary foreign workers rules—The good part--The federal government had introduced tougher rules in April this year for temporary foreign workers coming to Canada in a bid to offer them protection against misuse by employers in Canada.

This includes tougher penalties on employers not fulfilling Alberta wage requirements along with strict assessment of offers of jobs in Alberta. Any employer in Alberta failing to abide by the conditions with regard to working, jobs and wages will be banned from recruiting temporary foreign workers in Canada for a period of two-years.

The negative aspect of changes--However, changes introduced by Canada also mean all temporary foreign workers must leave Canada after completion of four years stay here. Moreover, all such temporary workers cannot make application for coming to Canada to work here before the expiry of another four years.

And this rule seems to be bothering many including Alberta immigration minister Lukaszuk.

The solution suggested by Alberta immigration minster--The minister asserts that the limit of four-years for stay of temporary foreign workers in Canada is going to toughen Canada’s position in the international market with regard to growing demand for immigrant workers.

Lukaszuk says that such an immigrant program for temporary foreign workers is not only costly but also smacks of inefficiency.

Hence, there is a need for making the program for flexible for enabling temporary foreign workers become permanent and also help them bring their families along with them.

Only then can Canada solve its looming shortage of workers and enable the economy grow.

Temporary Foreign Workers Program--Initially introduced by Canada government in 1973, Temporary Foreign Workers Program was aimed to allow immigrants possessing high-skills to come to Alberta. However, certain changes were introduced to this program in 2002.

Canada has, presently, around 360,000 temporary foreign workers. The figures of temporary foreign workers coming to Canada witnessed an increase to 251,235 in the year 2008 from 101,259 in the year 2002.