This will be an important discussion to have after the election is over. 💯 to ending the TFW program, it is a horrible abuse.
Linking immigration to housing policy is a good idea, too. Immigration without a settlement plan (and support to the provinces who bear the infrastructure costs in health and social services) is important.
As Canadians we have to realize that there is going to be enormous pressure to accept a large number… millions… of people who will be displaced by climate disasters around the world. We should prepare for that!
Great column Evan. Exploitation to depress wages is certainly a key concern and must be addressed with a TFW program cancellation. Attracting America's best and brightest would indeed be an excellent move. Imagine improving the R&D basis of publicly owned institutions. I recall the value of Connaught Labs before it became privatized years ago. Under the Trudeau regime it seemed that citizenship was devalued. We need to return to adding pride and ceremony as well as a clear set of expectations to new citizens as a part of the process. The potential for positive changes is at hand. May the winner of the election actually put some thought prior to takign actions rather than palying politics. A nation waits.
Evan, listen to Nate Erskine-Smith's podcast last fall with an immigration prof.
He helped me understand the math, and this issue is primarily about demographics.
Canada's plummeting birth rate means we need to increase immigration by quite a bit, now.
The prof (and I) agree with you that the TFW program is a subsidy to corporations, drag on youth employment, and brings in people with lower skills than our points-based immigration stream.
Lots to debate, but the numbers are clear: we need more, not fewer immigrants.
The tragedy of Trudeau’s term, in the Shakespearean sense, is that if he’d been willing to accept these sorts of policy changes 24 months ago he’d probably still be PM.
It is not that easy to say just terminate the TFW. There are key sectors that depend on it (agriculture, fishing, in home care). Just abolishing it would lead to disruption and inflation. The suggestion of tax breaks to incentivize hiring young Canadians is fine, but it may not cover the the need i. sectors where there are truly no Canadian workers interested (remember that current unemployment is 5-6% and in this group there may not be enough people physically capable to do this particular work)
People complain no matter what decision is made. Do this, don’t do that! I hate that but depends who it is. I can’t believe the whining especially the prairies, I had my life’s work destroyed yet still doesn’t matter. The negativity in the rural is getting more toxic and it’s making us all sick.
I have long believed American Dreamers should have an entry into Canada. Many if not most have high education levels and they come with strong second language skills.
In regard to temporary workers you would put a lot of farmers out of business if you ended that program. If they are being exploited, then increase the obligation to check their living conditions.
This will be an important discussion to have after the election is over. 💯 to ending the TFW program, it is a horrible abuse.
Linking immigration to housing policy is a good idea, too. Immigration without a settlement plan (and support to the provinces who bear the infrastructure costs in health and social services) is important.
As Canadians we have to realize that there is going to be enormous pressure to accept a large number… millions… of people who will be displaced by climate disasters around the world. We should prepare for that!
Great column Evan. Exploitation to depress wages is certainly a key concern and must be addressed with a TFW program cancellation. Attracting America's best and brightest would indeed be an excellent move. Imagine improving the R&D basis of publicly owned institutions. I recall the value of Connaught Labs before it became privatized years ago. Under the Trudeau regime it seemed that citizenship was devalued. We need to return to adding pride and ceremony as well as a clear set of expectations to new citizens as a part of the process. The potential for positive changes is at hand. May the winner of the election actually put some thought prior to takign actions rather than palying politics. A nation waits.
Evan, listen to Nate Erskine-Smith's podcast last fall with an immigration prof.
He helped me understand the math, and this issue is primarily about demographics.
Canada's plummeting birth rate means we need to increase immigration by quite a bit, now.
The prof (and I) agree with you that the TFW program is a subsidy to corporations, drag on youth employment, and brings in people with lower skills than our points-based immigration stream.
Lots to debate, but the numbers are clear: we need more, not fewer immigrants.
The tragedy of Trudeau’s term, in the Shakespearean sense, is that if he’d been willing to accept these sorts of policy changes 24 months ago he’d probably still be PM.
It is not that easy to say just terminate the TFW. There are key sectors that depend on it (agriculture, fishing, in home care). Just abolishing it would lead to disruption and inflation. The suggestion of tax breaks to incentivize hiring young Canadians is fine, but it may not cover the the need i. sectors where there are truly no Canadian workers interested (remember that current unemployment is 5-6% and in this group there may not be enough people physically capable to do this particular work)
People complain no matter what decision is made. Do this, don’t do that! I hate that but depends who it is. I can’t believe the whining especially the prairies, I had my life’s work destroyed yet still doesn’t matter. The negativity in the rural is getting more toxic and it’s making us all sick.
I have long believed American Dreamers should have an entry into Canada. Many if not most have high education levels and they come with strong second language skills.
In regard to temporary workers you would put a lot of farmers out of business if you ended that program. If they are being exploited, then increase the obligation to check their living conditions.