The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is proposing a new visa to replace the temporary foreign worker program.
In a report released yesterday, the group says an Introduction to Canada Visa would address shortages for small businesses while making way for citizenship.
“Canada was built by people who decided to take a chance, come here, and work hard to make a new life for themselves and their families,” said CFIB president Dan Kelly in a news release. “The Introduction to Canada Visa would open up those opportunities once again. You shouldn’t need a PhD to live the Canadian Dream.”
The visa is aimed at entry-level workers. It would give them a two-year term with an employer as a step towards permanent residency. The CFIB also proposes strict national and provincial enforcement and a chance to switch employers if commitments aren’t kept.
“One of the legitimate criticisms of the TFW program is that it was often employing temporary workers to fill permanent labour market needs,” states Kelly. “Given the massive cost of turn-over, small businesses would much rather hire someone who is not temporary, but the permanent immigration system largely prohibits anyone with more junior skill sets. We need workers at all skill levels, including for entry-level jobs, and that need isn’t going away.”
The CFIB report also says small businesses aren’t exploiting cheap labour, and in many cases, businesses said it’s more expensive to hire TFWs.
