House of Commons committee will get an “ear full” from labour advocates when MPs visit Edmonton tomorrow to learn about problems with temporary foreign worker program
Federal government created the problem, now they need to fix it, says AFL
EDMONTON, March 31 /CNW/ – Several union spokespeople with extensive
experience on issues related to the controversial Temporary Foreign Worker program will make presentations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration when it visits Edmonton tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, April 1st).
The committee will hear from Alberta Federation of Labour president GilMcGowan as well as the AFL's Temporary Foreign Worker Advocate, Yessy Byl.
In addition, presentations will be made by representatives from the
United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) and the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Both unions represent thousands of workers in the two sectors that have seen the most dramatic spikes in the use of temporary foreign workers – the construction and service sectors.
“Employers and governments have embraced the TFW program as a silver
bullet to deal with Alberta's increasingly tight labour market,” says McGowan. “But we'll be demonstrating that the program is failing both Canadians and foreign workers badly.”
The committee hearings will take place between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., April 1, 2008, in the Empire Ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald. The hotel is located at 10065-100 Street in downtown Edmonton.
Byl is scheduled to address the committee between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. McGowan and representatives from UFCW and IBEW will give their presentations between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
The cross-country hearings are being held to gather information for a
report the Standing Committee is preparing for Parliament on the Temporary Foreign Workers program – which is a program administered by the federal government.
For further information: Gil McGowan, AFL President @ (780) 483-3021
(office) or (780) 218-9888 (cell)
