CALGARY, ALBERTA, July 9, 2007 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Honourable Iris Evans, Alberta Minister of Employment, Immigration and Industry, today announced that the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta are working together to strengthen protections for temporary foreign workers.
"Each of our jurisdictions has an interest and a role to play in the entry and safe employment of foreign workers," said Minister Solberg. "That is why we are developing a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate information sharing between our levels of government, which is critical to ensuring that the rights of these workers are protected and that the terms of employment are fulfilled." This is the first time the federal government has worked with a provincial government to ensure that these measures are introduced.
The federal government is also currently exploring options to strengthen monitoring and compliance mechanisms for the protection of foreign workers. Minister Solberg noted: "We are looking at putting in place measures to address situations of abuse and fraud, including—but not limited to—the possibility of penalties or refusing future requests for foreign workers."
"Canada's New Government considers the safety of foreign workers a serious issue," Minister Solberg added. "I would like to congratulate the Province of Alberta for taking leadership to enhance the occupational health and safety of foreign workers by, for example, hiring additional employment standards officers.''
"The Temporary Foreign Worker Program has become an important tool for Alberta employers to address the labour shortage," said Minister Evans. "As the province welcomes increasing numbers of temporary foreign workers each year, this information sharing agreement will help us make sure our programs are meeting the needs of employers and employees. Although the number of complaints is low, this agreement will also help us better monitor the working conditions of foreign workers and the efforts of employers to integrate the foreign workers into their communities."
Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry is currently hiring 39 new employees in the occupational health and safety, employment standards, labour mobility and foreign recognition areas to support Alberta workplaces.
Minister Solberg noted that temporary foreign workers are being recruited in growing numbers to meet the demand of the strong economy, particularly in Western Canada, in large part due to oil and gas development and to construction projects such as the 2010 Winter Olympics. As well, Canada's labour force growth is slowing, creating further labour market pressures.
In Budget 2007, Canada's New Government committed an additional $50.5 million over two years to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to reduce processing delays, and respond more effectively to regional labour and skill shortages, so employers could meet their demands. These investments will facilitate the entry of foreign workers, while helping to ensure that proper monitoring and compliance measures are in place to protect them.
"As pressure grows for more temporary foreign workers, we want to make sure that there are robust measures in place to protect their interests," said Minister Solberg. "There must be zero tolerance for abuse, mistreatment or wrongdoing by unscrupulous employers, unions or recruiters. At the same time, we need to recognize that temporary foreign workers must supplement Canadian labour, not displace it," the Minister added.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Lesley Harmer
Minister Solberg's Office
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
Lorelei Fiset-Cassidy
Director of Communications
Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry
Tel: (780) 427-5649
Cell: (780) 619-1357