Should they stay, or should they go? – Kathleen Castner's Blog

The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program is said to be a major asset for the province of Alberta as the province is facing major labour shortages. The TFW Program is deemed necessary for fast food places to continue to operate for twenty-four hours. McDonalds’ workforce is made up of 24% TFWs (5). In 2012 it was shown that Alberta uses the process of hiring TFWs more than any other province (3), exemplifying its impressive need to keep the TFW Program running. Immigration in Canada since 1967 has progressively increased, with a total and record of 491,547 TFWs in 2012, which is five times more than in 2002 (2). The Program allows those unable to find work in their country of origin to experience living in a new country while earning savings to support themselves upon their return home. In addition, the program allows these workers to gain experience, which could lead to full time work; if TFWs are given full time work, they have the opportunity to “qualify through the Provincial Nominee Program for permanent residence” (1).

I, however, will argue that in contrary to the labour shortages in Alberta, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program should be permanently discontinued because the program’s guidelines have been abused, workers have been mistreated, and it has lead to family unification immigration. It is nearly impossible to prove that there is a “serious labour shortage” (3) as the “quality of Canada’s labour market data” (3) is extremely poor. It was reported by the CBC that three McDonald’s restaurants “displaced (Canadian workers) by temporary foreign workers” (3). Employment Minister Jason Kenney announced that the TFW Program is facing the possibility of elimination by 2016 (4) on the basis that this program has become a “family reunification program” (4) in disguise. The program is increasing the number of immigrants wanting to enter Canada to be reunited with their family. It can be assumed that most have no job prospects lined up, as their reasons for entering Canada is to be reunited with loved ones. In addition, McDonalds workers claim they are treated “like “slaves,”” (6) and were deducted money from their paycheck on the claim of payment for rent (which was not specified in the initial recruitment). The government should continue to investigate the major flaws in the TFW Program, especially in the McDonalds industry as I believe the program creates more problems than it solves.