Redford wants to talk to Harper about more temporary workers for flood rebuild

CALGARY – Alberta Premier Alison Redford says she wants to talk to the prime minister about allowing more temporary foreign workers into Alberta as her province rebuilds from recent flooding.

Redford says Alberta is going to need a robust workforce as homes and businesses are restored in devastated communities right across the southern part of the province.

Both Redford and Prime Minister Stephen Harper are in Calgary this weekend for the Stampede.

More than 330,000 workers live and work in Canada as part of the federal temporary foreign worker program.

That number has nearly tripled over the last 10 years, with the bulk of those job seekers going west in search of work.

The program has come under scrutiny lately with complaints emerging that foreign workers are taking the jobs of Canadians.

Ottawa recently proposed changes to the program, strengthening rules around what foreign workers must be paid and putting a temporary freeze on the ability to fast-track the process of bringing someone in.