New Alberta Premier Wants Temporary Foreign Worker Changes

Alberta’s new Premier, Jim Prentice, has stated that labour policy, including the issue of temporary foreign workers, will be to the fore of his agenda when he meets with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Prentice, who used to serve as Minister of Industry in Harper’s federal cabinet, has made it clear that he sides with employers in Alberta who have reacted with concern to changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program made by the Government of Canada three months ago. The changes placed additional burdens and costs on employers wishing to hire from abroad. Alberta, with the fastest growing economy in Canada, had relied on the program more heavily than other provinces.

“With the population pressure we’re under, with the job creation pressure that we’re under in this province, I’ve heard loud and clear over the summer from business people that the changes on temporary foreign workers are going to be very, very difficult,” said Prentice.

Prentice’s statements follow the news that the Alberta Pilot Program for occupation-specific work permits will not be continued by the federal government. Alberta has provided the largest number of jobs in Canada in recent years, and labour shortages in certain industries are expected in the coming years.

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