Speaking notes
for
the Honourable Diane Finley,
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development,
to announce reforms to the
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
April 29, 2013
Ottawa, Ontario
Check Against Delivery
Hello everyone.
Thank you all for joining us here this afternoon.
As I’m sure you already know, Canada is facing major skills shortages that are hurting our economy.
Let’s be clear: we have a very real mismatch between the skills that workers have and what employers need in this country.
If you want some sobering statistics, here they are…
It’s estimated that by 2016, there will be 1.5 million skilled job vacancies and those vacancies will rise to 2.6 million by 2021.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has identified Canada’s skills shortages as the number one issue facing its membership.
Addressing this challenge is a national priority, and a priority for our government.
That is why we introduced a three-point skills strategy as part of Economic Action Plan 2013.
First, we are creating the Canada Job Grant, which will take skills-training choices out of the hands of government and put them where they belong: in the hands of employers and Canadians who want to work.
Second, we are creating opportunities for apprentices by making it more practical and easier to get the experience needed to make the leap to journeyperson status.
Third, we are providing support to under-represented groups, including people with disabilities, youth, Aboriginal people and newcomers, to help them find good jobs.
In addition to our strategy to address Canada’s skills and labour shortages, we are reforming the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
The Program is meant to help to fill those very real and acute labour needs.
However, Canadians have real concerns that the Program is being used by some employers to replace Canadians with foreign workers - and not always allowing Canadians to have the first crack at available jobs in this country.
We understand why Canadians are asking questions.
Quite frankly, our government shares their concerns.
The Program was never intended to displace Canadian workers.
As you are aware, our government has been conducting a review to make sure that Canadians are considered first for available jobs.
These changes stem from the review of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and follow the intentions we announced inCanada’s Economic Action Plan.
And today, given our departments have joint responsibility for the Program, Minister Kenney and I are here to announce that we are putting in place changes – seven in total – that will reform the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
A number of changes are coming into effect immediately – and some will be introduced through legislation.
First, we will require that employers using the Program pay temporary foreign workers the prevailing wage for a job.
Let me clarify that change.
In the past, employers had the flexibility to pay temporary foreign worker wages up to 15% below the prevailing wage for a higher-skilled occupation, and 5% below the prevailing wage for a lower-skilled occupation.
Provided they could demonstrate that the wage being paid to a temporary foreign worker was the same as that being paid to their Canadian employees in the same job and in the same location.
This measure was not effective and the option will no longer be available under the new wage policy.
Second…following concerns that have been raised, we are temporarily suspending the Accelerated Labour Market Opinion Process. This suspension is effective immediately.
Third…we will be asking additional questions as part of the Labour Market Opinion application process used by employers. This will be to specifically ensure that when employers bring in temporary foreign workers, no Canadian workers are displaced as a result of outsourcing.
These changes will be made in short order.
Furthermore…we are restricting English and French as the only languages that can be identified as a job requirement.
These are just a few of the reforms we are introducing.
These changes will strengthen and improve the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to support our economic recovery and growth. We will be monitoring the changes and looking at further measures in the coming months.
As part of the ongoing review process, I am pleased to announce that our Government will be seeking input from Canadians on other changes to the Program.
Over the coming months, we will be holding cross‑Canada consultations with businesses, trade organizations, unions and other groups to make sure that the Program is working in the best interests of Canadian workers.
At this point, I would like to hand the floor over to my colleague, the Honourable Jason Kenney, to round out the changes that we are making to this program.
Thank you.
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