ALBERTA AND BC TRYING TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN WORKERS

New rules to woo foreign workers

Kelly Cryderman
Calgary Herald

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Employers will find it easier to bring janitors, construction labourers, meat cutters and other types of temporary foreign workers into Alberta and B.C. under new rules announced by the federal government Monday.
Human Resources and Social Development Minister Monte Solberg said his department is adding 21 more occupations to a pilot program that fast-tracks applicants from employers so they can bring temporary workers to Canada more quickly.
Paperwork for many occupations may take up to five months, the department said. But under the Expedited Labour Market Opinion pilot project -- which began last September -- it can take as little as five days.
British Columbia and Alberta, in particular, have seen the number of temporary foreign workers skyrocket as both provinces work to cope with labour shortages.
In Alberta, Solberg has predicted the province faces a potential shortfall of 100,000 workers over the next decade.
Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry Minister Iris Evans said the federal government needs to continue to find ways to draw workers to the province.
"I think the fact that British Columbia has the Olympics and we have this booming economy, for both, this pilot couldn't come at a better time," Evans said Monday.
However, some have criticized the federal and provincial governments' push to quickly increase the flow of foreign workers. The Alberta Federation of Labour has reported a litany of problems faced by temporary workers from other countries, including excessive rents charged by employers for substandard housing, jobs disappearing without notice and an increasing prevalence of illegal employment brokers.
After Ottawa's announcement Monday, a total of 33 occupations are now a part of the pilot project, including new additions such as industrial electricians, welders, petroleum engineers, food service supervisors, courier drivers and residential cleaning workers.