Labour group says foreign worker program wrongly used to fill low-skill jobs

EDMONTON – A labour group is calling for a review of a federal program designed to help employers quickly hire temporary foreign workers for high-skill jobs.

The Alberta Federation of Labour says since the program was announced last April, more than 2,400 permits have been approved to hire foreign workers for service industry positions.

Federation president Gil McGowan says access to information documents show these employers include fast-food restaurants, convenience stores and gas stations.

McGowan says these permits are being used to replace Canadian workers and wants the federal auditor general to investigate the government’s approval process.

Under the federal Accelerated-Labour Market Opinion program employers can pay foreign workers up to 15 per cent less than Canadian workers.

The program is designed to process permits to hire temporary foreign workers for high-skill jobs, including the skilled trades, within 10 business days.