MONDAY, MAY 11, 2009

BRITISH COLUMBIA & YUKON TERRITORY BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL #204 – 4333 Ledger Avenue, Burnaby BC V5G 3T3 Tel: 604-291-9020 Fax: 604-291-9590 Website: wwww.bcbuildingtrades.org E-mail: bcytbctc@bcbuildingtrades.org

NEWS RELEASE Monday, May 11, 2009

BC Building Trades Call for the Implementation of Recommendations Released in the Report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Vancouver … BC construction unions are calling on the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Hon. Jason Kenney, to immediately act on recommendations by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM). The CIMM has called for new monitoring and enforcement measures to stop the exploitation of vulnerable workers. The Committee’s report is in response to a dramatic shift in Canadian immigration policy that entrenches ‘guest workers’. Over the last two years the program has grown exponentially. In 2008 over 120,000 of the restrictive temporary work permits were issued. There are now more ‘guest workers’ entering the country than any class of immigration.

“Canada’s ‘guest workers’ are a band-aid solution to temporary labour shortages. The program undermines immigration and diverts investments away from apprenticeship training” according to Wayne Peppard, BCYT-BCTC Executive Director. “The CIMM report recognizes these problems and its recommendations will provide some protection for these vulnerable workers.” Peppard said.

The Committee report also calls for penalties against employers who abuse workers and fail to comply with contractual obligations with Service Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Additionally the report also calls for greater co-operation between provincial labour standards officials and federal authorities.

In spite of these positive amendments Conservative committee members submitted a minority report that favours separating ‘guest workers’ from their families and denies non-government stakeholder groups from involvement in the program.

“The Standing Committee report is the first acknowledgement by federal politicians about the radical impact of the ‘guest worker’ program on Canadian society and economy. Now it’s up to the government and Minister Kenney to stop the abuses and exploitation of temporary foreign workers” Peppard said.

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For further information contact: Wayne Peppard 778-388-0014

For further information contact 

the BCYT-BCTC office:  604-291-9020

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