Immigration Minister Declares End to Era of Dependence on ‘Unlimited Supply of Cheap Foreign Labor’

November 14, 2024 TruthUSA

Immigration Minister Marc Miller suggests that the era of an “unlimited supply” of cheap foreign labor has ended, and employers may need to raise wages to attract more Canadian workers.

Addressing the often “disproportionate relationship” between businesses and their employees is crucial when it comes to low-cost temporary foreign workers, Miller stated during a Nov. 13 press conference following his speech at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

“There are exploitative relationships that exist, and we need to crack down on them,” Miller remarked. “That includes a proper wage in some of the low wage categories” such as agriculture and food processing.

Dealing with the issue involves balancing the number of foreign workers with actual demand, he added, emphasizing that Ottawa cannot completely cut off the supply to a sector like agriculture when the country is facing food inflation and insecurity.

“The answers aren’t simple,” he acknowledged. “It begins with ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity while working in Canada, regardless of whether they are temporary or Canadian citizens.”

Ottawa will be responsible for addressing abuses of the country’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and determining the necessary number of permits for different regions and sectors, according to Miller.

“Permits are something we’re looking at as we continue to reform the system,” he stated. “It’s clear that the age of unlimited supply of cheap foreign labor is over, and I think that is a good thing.”

The Liberal government has faced criticism from the Opposition Conservatives for increasing the number of temporary residents permitted into Canada, which they have tied to housing shortages and a higher cost of living. A recent Angus Reid poll discovered that as concerns about housing and employment opportunities persist, Canadians are increasingly in favor of scaling back the TFWP.

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