Whitehorse Daily Star

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NO LOSS – Mike Buensuceso of the Canadian Filipino Association of the Yukon doubts whether changes to the federal Temporary Foreign Workers Program will have much of an impact for the Filipino community.

Some criticize changes to foreign worker program

Joy Allen first came to Canada from the Philippines in 1988 to work as a nanny.

By Rhiannon Russell on July 11, 2014

Joy Allen first came to Canada from the Philippines in 1988 to work as a nanny.

She found an employer here who applied on her behalf, and after a couple of years, she became a permanent resident.

Now, as the owner of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Whitehorse, she’s on the opposite side of that process.

When Allen can’t find Canadian workers to fill positions at the restaurant, she turns to foreign labour. But the federal government’s Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) isn’t what she relies on.

“I have gone through the short-term program before, and it takes a long time compared to the Yukon Nominee Program,” Allen said.

The latter program is popular amongst employers and employees. Administered by the territorial government, it allows skilled workers to seek permanent residency.

Allen’s pleased to hear the federal government’s recent changes to its TFWP won’t affect the nominee program, although another territorial labour initiative will be discontinued.

The Yukon Temporary Foreign Workers Program, a one-year pilot introduced last summer that focused on seasonal hiring in oil, gas and mineral exploration and tourism and hospitality, will end July 31.

The Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced reforms to its program last month, aiming to crack down on employers’ over-reliance on foreign workers by increasing penalties for abusing the system, upping the cost of applications to $1,000 from $275 and prohibiting employers from hiring workers in regions with high unemployment.

Rich Thompson, interim chair of the Yukon Chamber of Commerce, said he was disappointed by these tightened regulations.

“All of these things add cost to business and it’s really unfortunate,” he said earlier this week.

“We’re obviously always in favour of more business-friendly environments and we do recognize that governments have to set policies that make sense for all Canadians, that’s totally appropriate, but in this particular case, I think the changes are not well-founded.”

In a recent news release, federal Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney said the program should be a last resort for employers, used when no Canadian workers are available.

“These reforms will significantly reduce the number of temporary foreign workers in Canada and improve labour market information, while strengthening enforcement and penalties for those who break the rules,” he said.

Like Allen, Rick Karp, president of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce and the owner of Hair Sensations salon, doesn’t rely on the federal program.

He used it once, several years ago, and found the process complex and frustrating. He ultimately gave up.

Since then, he’s hired eight workers through the Nominee Program, and one through the soon-to-be-defunct Yukon’s Temporary Foreign Workers Program.

The Canadian government’s changes are not enticing him to try to use the federal program again.

“As the owner of a small business in Whitehorse right now, would I use the federal Temporary Foreign Workers Program? The answer to that would be no,” Karp said.

“It’s putting a lot of small business out of the loop ... It’s increasing cost, plus you’re going to pay for the flight, you have to pay for health insurance for that individual. There are all sorts of critical implications with using the federal program.”

Mike Buensuceso, president of the Canadian Filipino Association of the Yukon, said he hasn’t heard many concerns from workers about the federal changes for that reason – Yukon employers prefer the nominee program.

“It’s better,” Allen said simply. “Hopefully the government will just continue it. We really, really need workers.”

Education Minister Elaine Taylor said last week territorial and provincial governments weren’t consulted on the changes made to the federal program.

Taylor and her territorial and provincial counterparts are in Prince Edward Island this week for several meetings, including one with Kenney.

She said she’d be pushing further collaboration.

“We want to ensure that moving forward we are consulted, that in fact we do have some input into how we move forward.”

Citizenship and Immigration spokeswoman Nancy Caron said in an email that four provinces and the Yukon had specific agreements with the department on temporary foreign workers.

All will be terminated.

“These agreements have not been mis-used by the five provinces and territory,” Caron wrote. “However, they do not allow for the same level of scrutiny and employer accountability that was announced as part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program reforms, aimed at ensuring that Canadians have the first chance at available jobs.”

Twenty workers were approved this year through the Yukon’s temporary program. The Nominee Program has accepted 792 workers since 2007.

Last year, the federal program brought 70 people to the Yukon, down from 95 in 2012.

Comments (21)

Up 10 Down 4

fbj on Aug 7, 2014 at 1:23 pm

I am in favor of the Conservatives on fixing the TWP program, l see resumes every day. What gets me is many of these foreign workers cannot speak english and unable to converse with customers and when l go into the big box stores all l seem to hear is a chinese, filipini, east indian chattering away in their native language and l wonder what the tourists think.

Up 7 Down 10

Angelina on Aug 5, 2014 at 8:44 pm

I am stunned at the comments made here. I think the TWP is a good program. All of us were immigrants at one point. However, the fact is, those who are working are and those who are not, do not want to be working. There are a plethora members of society who feel they are too good to serve coffee or to wait on people or do the tasks asked of them. The people who are not working do not have a work ethic as there are numerous substantial well paying jobs out there, yet TWP have to fill this void. I wish people would recall when we would go into the big box stores and the shelves were empty, stock was sitting on the floor waiting to be put away and there was no one around to help, so many people have forgotten this. Isn't it nice now to have someone who actually wants to do a good job help you and assist you?! It doesn't matter if you are Canadian, Nate or Filipino, having a work ethic is what gets you further in this world and a lot of people in today's society do not.

Up 24 Down 2

sr on Jul 24, 2014 at 5:42 pm

Lyza, I have to hold back to be polite, but here it goes. My experience with Canadian workers has been diametrically opposite to your supposed experience. My workers, and I had 5 full time plus about 10 occasional - had to do with the type of business, every single one of them save 2, was incredible. Reliable, professional, upbeat and honest.

Makes me wonder about your business. Sorry, but how could it be that we have had such different experiences? My work place was kind of fast paced and it was fun, and people wanted to work there so maybe they valued their jobs and put more into it for that reason. We paid the equivalent of $17 an hour in today's dollars. Not a lot, but much more than minimum wage, and they were worth every dime and more.

Up 9 Down 32

Lyza M. on Jul 23, 2014 at 7:26 pm

I am a small business owner. When I first started my business I hired all Canadians, in fact 5 of them. I was giving them more than the minimum wage. But the problem with these people, they don't have work ethics at all. If they don't want to come to work, they don't even have the courtesy to call their employer or supervisor that they cannot come to work. If they are scheduled to come on that particular time, they showed up late. One incident, my staff just left before the end of his shift without even asking permission that he is going to do undertime. When I asked where he is going, he said he is leaving because he wants to see a concert. If you all people who are criticising all the TFWP, if you are an employer, what would you do? Retain them or fire them!
Yes, we love to hire Canadians because we don't want to see them roaming the street begging or see them at the food bank, however, their work ethics are not acceptable. For business owners, if you employ these kind of people, it is better to close your business rather than have your blood boiling with anger if you have these kind of workers.
Filipinos are superb, you cannot hear them complain, trustworthy and willing to work long hours.

Up 26 Down 3

shane hurst on Jul 23, 2014 at 1:09 pm

@immigrant, I will use my real name as what you have said makes me sick. I and millions more have never taken a hand out nor will I. But you yourself and all the people on the worker program have. Here is my challenge to you, respond with your real NAME.

Up 25 Down 8

Josey Wales on Jul 18, 2014 at 8:07 am

I'll keep'er brief...I'd rather wait a tad (for our alleged lazy fellow Canadians) and assist someones kid into the work force, than undermine my own country and be a ESL instructor with my consumer dollars.
Why this ENTIRE program is not shut down (federally) despite the clear objection from us CANADIANS, and there fact that is has and IS decimating our labour pool....mystifies me?

"if you need TFW to succeed in your business, your business plan has already failed"
Those are Minister Kenny's words, too bad he does not walk the walk but only the talk...

Up 34 Down 10

anon on Jul 17, 2014 at 2:44 pm

Shut theTFW program down! More than enough immigrants here already!

Up 27 Down 10

bb on Jul 16, 2014 at 7:43 pm

Immigrant says, "Canadians are not competitive. They have been spoilt with Social Security cheques, sitting on their butts, drinking beer, watching TV and getting obese."

"Filipinos who are friendly, knows where what is and willing to help."

Hey, tell us how you really feel, 'Immigrant'! Given your synopsis of 'Spoilt, fat, drunk Whitey', and 'friendly knows where what is immigrant'; the service at the Superstore today should have been superb! I did not see one spoiled whitey working in the place, not a single one.
So. How are all us Yukon people liking the Nominee Program and other 'replace spoiled fat drunk whitey' employment immigration programs so far? It seems to me that the mycelium is sprouting. 'Immigrant' here is now coming right out and saying what he/she truly thinks of 'White Canadians'.

This is rich indeed! I thank you deeply 'Immigrant'. Your words do more than I ever could to point out the problems that are being brought to our territory.

Up 14 Down 41

Immigrant on Jul 15, 2014 at 10:11 pm

Canadians are not competitive. They have been spoilt with Social Security cheques, sitting on their butts, drinking beer, watching TV and getting obese. When I came to town 10 years ago, the service in a certain box store was pathetic, a few white youngsters hanging around, showing no interest in assisting any customer. Go to the same store now and spot the difference. Filipinos who are friendly, knows where what is and willing to help. There is nothing as good as a bit of competition.

Up 12 Down 15

north_of_60 on Jul 15, 2014 at 5:39 pm

Everyone wants low prices. Therefore with rising costs including energy, materials, supplies, equipment, taxes, insurance and rent, one of the few ways a business can keep prices low is by keeping unskilled and semi-skilled wages low. If you want cheap fast food, it’s going to be minimum wage earners serving you.

The recent immigrants who fill these minimum wage service jobs are a valuable asset to our community. Unlike many of the residents that rejected those minimum wage jobs, recent immigrants are polite, hard-working, responsible, talented and cheerful people with strong community, spiritual, and family values.

They teach their kids good family values and the importance of an education. I doubt if there are many recent immigrants in Whitehorse who are homeless, drug-addicted street people, and they don’t seem to be engaging in criminal activity or gangs. Even though they’re earning the lowest wages, they manage to send some money ‘back home’ to family members who are less fortunate.

Up 34 Down 0

melba on Jul 14, 2014 at 10:20 am

Craig Johnston, please make a formal report to the Yukon and federal government about your experience of not even getting a call back from KFC. I have heard the same stories from others but unfortunately people can't be bothered to fight back. They figure they won't get hired anyway and they do not look at the issue as their responsibility as a Canadian to do something about it. You would be doing a service to all Canadians and your country, not to mention yourself, if you would PLEASE report this and insist that it be investigated.

You would be my hero, I have been waiting for a whistle blower on this issue.

Up 39 Down 7

Wundering on Jul 13, 2014 at 9:07 am

The Filipino community numbers approx 3000 in the Yukon almost 10% of Yukon population. How did most come here? On Yukon Nominee program or the foreign worker program? This is just the Filipino population what about other foreign workers?
How many foreign workers does the Yukon really need?
This seems like a program to change the cultural demographic of a country, along with a way to manipulate the labor market.

Up 9 Down 30

just Say'in on Jul 12, 2014 at 9:59 pm

Kids in this town want a career not a JOB! For a kid to be making 15.00 per hr. is equivalent to an adult making 22.00 per hr because they pay no taxes. They also get a GST cheque back from the Government quarterly.
If there is an inequality it is that there should be two minimum wages 15.00 per hr for adults, while kids should get about 6.00 per hr. while they learn to work. After all, for them it is after tax dollars and they live at home for free. Employers have to have a qualified person working beside every kid just to assure little Johnny is safe and has his or her cookies and milk break. This generation is useless and can't work (Won't work).

Up 16 Down 4

north_of_60 on Jul 12, 2014 at 6:58 pm

Notice which businesses employ minimum wage workers. How much more are you willing to pay for the products and services those businesses provide so they can pay an increased minimum wage? Five percent, 10%, more? Any increase in labor cost is passed directly to the consumer.

Up 45 Down 5

Lisa Shelley on Jul 12, 2014 at 10:10 am

I recently moved to Whitehorse from Calgary. My two cents are this. The Goverment Social Assistance program. How easy it is to walk in the doors, grab a check to cover everything and stay on Welfare for many years.

In Alberta, they don't care, if your able to work, your working. If you don't work, they won't even look at you., and that's how Yukon Government should be. Fix your SA program, not only does it drain the economy, it will make Yukoners work

Up 9 Down 0

Craig Johnston on Jul 12, 2014 at 9:12 am

oops! 60% matter: by 2030 is their forecast.

Up 7 Down 5

Craig Johnston on Jul 12, 2014 at 9:11 am

One other thing. I've learned and you can google this... The United Nations developed policy that helps their forcast of 60% of the working middle class jobs will be employed by Asian workers!

Up 38 Down 3

Craig Johnston on Jul 12, 2014 at 9:09 am

I've applied to Kentucky Fried Chicken several times, and have never had so much as a return phone call from them. I have 3-5 years cook experience and I am a certified Retail Sales Associate through the Retail Council of Canada.

I've applied to KFC so many times and heard nothing back, that I've developed the belief that they ignore any names that may be of non Filipino decent and no longer bother to apply for employment there!

Up 40 Down 2

bobbybitman on Jul 11, 2014 at 5:10 pm

What percentage of the work force at KFC, owned by Joy Allen, are Nominee workers from the Philipines? Close to 100%?

The Nominee Program in the Yukon needs to be seriously looked at. It has become the easiest route into Canada. Simply offering insufficient wages at a fast food joint, then declaring that 'no Canadians will work there', should not be grounds for bringing in workers from developing nations. The only bargaining power low paid workers have is that the KFC's do not have an option, they have to pay a decent wage or flip the chicken wings themselves. Now that bargaining power is gone.

I'd like to know how many workers at KFC are here under the Nominee Program, how many Canadians work there, and how much Ms. Allen is paying per hour. Would have made the story more illuminating.

Up 60 Down 6

June Jackson on Jul 11, 2014 at 4:18 pm

With 850 k Canadians forced to use food banks in Canada, I am a Canadian first person for jobs..any job..if a Canadian can't do it..train him or her..I am in favor of cleaning up Welfare, UIC, and Workers Comp abuses, put the able bodied to work..most of my welfare dollars goes to cigarettes and booze anyway..

There are a lot more FW than the 70 people being referred to in this article in the Yukon..there are more than that at Walmart ..and these are not well trained or educated people..Canada doesn't even know how many illegals are in this country..how many visas and work permits expired and people just didn't leave.. The Chamber of Commerce is about business...business is about money..,money does not have a heart or a soul and I feel generally speaking, that if it's good for business..it's not going to benefit anyone but the money humpers.

Up 60 Down 4

Mark Jacobson on Jul 11, 2014 at 3:48 pm

I have many views on this, and past stories regarding the TWP.

Business's pay your workers decent wages, I don't know how someone can live on 10.00/hr. If you pay decent, not only will you get born and raised Yukoners, you will get some fantastic workers. No one in Canada should make under 12.50/hr.

I am a local business owner in the territory, and I hire local residents only. I pay 15.00/hr and I find my staff happy and they work very hard. I do not hire TWP folks.

Big box Business's (who I will not name) should be ashamed of themselves for such low income wages, and hiring only foreign workers. I support the Conservative's (for a change) on fixing the TWP program, however as a business owner, and in my own view, the TWP should be eliminated all together and Canada should go back to being there for its own citizens for a change

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