TFW limit forces thousands to leave the country

A 2011 government-imposed limit on Temporary Foreign Workers goes into effect Wednesday.

Thousands of TFWs will be packing their bags and heading back home, and a number of small businesses are losing highly skilled employees, because of the four year limit implemented on April 1.

Alberta currently has the highest number of Temporary Foreign Workers, followed closely by Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the move is going to hurt the economy, especially in small centres.

Richard Truscott, CFIB Vice President of Alberta and B.C., calls the decision a blow to those who came to Canada seeking a better life.

“Instead of allowing them the opportunity to stay, to become a permanent part of our economy and a permanent part of our communities, we’re going to send them packing and that’s definitely going to have a big impact on small business,” he said.

Richard Truscott says in the weeks to come, especially in smaller towns and cities, he expects service levels to suffer, and businesses to reduce operating hours.

Benjamin Jalbuna, Owner of Wok Box in Quarry Park, tells City News, he has friends who are struggling.

“There’s no jobs available back home. They are like the sacrificial lamb: they sacrifice their time; they’ve been away from their family. They leave their homes and work really hard here in Canada,” he said.

Everyone knows what temporary means, but he says there has always been a glimmer of hope they’d be able to stay longer: a hope which is now gone.

Jalbuna adds the vacancies left behind in the service industry when the temporary workers leave could have devastating effects across the country.

Chris Alexander, Federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, says the changes were necessary to curtail some of the abuse happening within the program.

They’ve been working to help those affected find permanent citizenship in Canada.

“Building up that Alberta workforce in a way that meets the needs of Alberta employers and Alberta communities has been part of our agenda,” he said.

Ric McIver, Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, believes special exceptions need to be made in Alberta’s case.

“Because one size doesn’t fit all across Canada and Alberta has some unique needs,” he said.

At the end of 2013, Alberta had just over 40,000 thousand Temporary Foreign Workers.