Rotary Club Meeting: Temporary Foreign Worker Program

One of the members of the Rotary Club invited me to attend their meeting this evening. The speaker was Tom Morris, the General Manager of the Kindersley Inn.

Rotary Club Meeting. Jan 14, 2015

Tom spoke passionately about the effect of the changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) program on businesses in Kindersley. You may have experienced the changes directly: Tim Hortons has reduced hours, KFC has closed, and McDonalds has made changes.

The program was designed to help employers staff their businesses by allowing workers from abroad to come to Canada. This has been a successful program for both employers, employees, and communities. In Kindersley some of the people who came through the program have found career oriented jobs, bought houses and cars, and started families; this is evidence of an effective program.

Regrettably some businesses have abused the system and the perception was not good. As a result changes were made that have harmed businesses across western Canada. As the changes were about to be rolled out I met with Minister Jason Kenney on the issue. He was aware of the challenges for the west but the situation in central and eastern Canada were more pressing (the polite way of speaking).

Over supper there was a good discussion on housing as well and its importance.

It was a good supper and thank you to Lilliana for inviting me to learn more.