Canada needs more immigrant future citizens, fewer guest workers

Globe editorial on temporary workers vs immigration. Not surprisingly that employers are taking advantage of the expansion of the temporary foreign worker program; surprising that the Government did not anticipate such abuse (would be interesting to know what officials advised). In the rush to meet requests from franchise owners and the like, some fall-out.

One of the ironies is that Minister Kenney now gets to see the temporary foreign worker issues from the Economic and Social Development perspective, whereas before it was from an immigration perspective.

Canada’s wise and long-standing policy has been to prefer immigrants over temporary workers. Most newcomers to this country come as immigrants, offered permanent-resident status and a path to citizenship. They come to Canada to become Canadians, and even before they attain full citizenship, they are able to enjoy most of the rights of Canadians in the labour market. Workers under the temporary program are a whole other story. There are cases where the program makes sense, but Canada should be wary of creating a large pool of low-wage, temporary guest workers with limited rights, some of whom run the risk of turning into illegal residents when their temporary status ends.

Employers having trouble finding workers to fill low-skill, low-wage jobs have two choices: attract new employees by raising wages, or find a new pool of people willing to work for less. The point of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program should not be to ensure that businesses never have to consider the first option. And if this country really has a shortage of low-skill workers, Canada should consider taking in more immigrants – future citizens – rather than more guest workers.

Canada needs more immigrant future citizens, fewer guest workers – The Globe and Mail.