Unemployment Jumps to 7.1% - Government Imports More Foreign Workers

"Conservatism" in Action

• Like the GOP in America, Canada's pro-business "Conservative" government is eagerly importing "temporary" foreign workers to replace citizens and drive down wages.
• No one stands up for native born workers.

Unemployment has climbed to 7.1 per cent in Canada and yet a key segment of the Harper Government's donor base is screeching for more "Temporary" Foreign Workers.

What to do?

From the perspective of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, this is a serious problem. Too many Canadians remain unpersuaded by the hysterical campaign cranked up by the country’s retail business sector to turn the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) spigot back to full, and to do it right now, lest … well, lest something really bad happens.
.

Not satisfied by mere wage-suppression -- delivered in spades by the federal government -- now they’re hooked on a steady supply of powerless and compliant workers from abroad.

Fast-food restaurant owners have threatened everything from cutting back the number of coffees they serve after 3 a.m. to trimming their charitable donations, and yet the general public seems unshaken by their warnings.

Maybe the usual suspects can blame the education system: here in Alberta our teachers still seem to be teaching their charges how to do the math...

Behind closed doors, have no doubt about it, the TFW lobby is telling the Harper Cons that the spigot that’s actually going to be shut off if they don't get their way, and soon, with the flow of easily coerced and underpaid foreign workers fully restored, is the one full of money they send to Conservative Party coffers.

The Harper Government’s Solomonic answer? "Targeted exemptions," which according to the Canadian Press means Employment Minister Jason Kenney will consider fewer restrictions on a steady flow of TFWs.

Thanks to Blazing Cat Fur

McCorruption - Importing Workers
McDonald’s is under federal investigation over possible abuses of the Temporary Foreign Worker program at a franchise outlet in B.C.
.
"The pattern is that the temporary foreign workers are getting more shifts and that the Canadians are getting less,” said employee Kalen Christ, a McDonald’s "team leader" who has worked at the Victoria location for four years.
.
As a result of Go Public’s inquiries, the government has suspended all pending foreign worker permits for the three McDonald’s locations owned by franchisee Glen Bishop and has blacklisted his franchise from using the program, pending the outcome of the probe.
.
“Many, many people have been complaining about it,” said Christ.
.
The government probe began after Christ told Go Public the fast food outlet is bringing in Filipino workers while cutting local staffers’ hours and turning away dozens of seemingly qualified Canadians seeking jobs.
.
“I saw them walk in and apply. I saw the resumés, and there were lots,” said Christ. He said he has seen 50 resumés submitted by local applicants at the Pandora Avenue franchise in recent months.
.
“It’s sad. Some of them would have university on their resumé, and they weren’t being hired, even at McDonald’s.”
.
He said a manager told staff the store wasn’t hiring because up to nine new Filipino workers were coming, who still haven’t arrived.
.
“I don’t understand how they could even use an excuse like that,” said Christ.
,
See more CBC News.