Saskatchewan disappointed with new temporary foreign worker rules

REGINA – Saskatchewan Immigration Minister Jeremy Harrison says the province is disappointed with the federal government’s changes to its temporary foreign worker program.

Harrison says Saskatchewan doesn’t have enough domestic workers and there’s — quote — “a crying need” for workers to fill jobs.

He notes the province’s unemployment rate in May was 3.7 per cent, the lowest among the provinces.

One of the changes puts a cap of 10 per cent on the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers an employer can hire at each worksite.

Harrison says there will be an impact on the Saskatchewan economy if businesses can’t find workers and have to shut down or cut back hours.

The minister says he is happy to see that the changes call for stronger enforcement and higher penalties, because he believes there were some abuses of the old program.