There are important skills shortages in Canada. Government knows it, business feels it. Turning to skilled employees from outside of Canada has been an important part of the solution for Canadian businesses. An employer’s first job is to succeed in business. Without business success, there are no jobs and wages, no economic growth, no new tax revenue for governments. Canada’s labour markets require foreign workers—for the sake of Canadian businesses and their employees.
Everything in last week’s announcement on the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program suggests the government wants this program to be as restrictive as possible. But, we should remember the program was invented to ensure Canadian businesses had access to the workers they need. This still is the most important priority.