James Metcalfe | Pace Law Firm | Director of Immigration: One of the most interesting recent developments in Canadian immigration policy is criticism of the issuance of work permits to persons working in low skilled jobs, including fast food outlets and the like.
Recent press reports out of British Columbia told a story of persons who were hired in the Philippines to work at McDonalds at a hirer wage than that which was offered to Canadians. In turn, the government has opened an investigation:
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.
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.
From my perspective, the issue is not really the availability of qualified workers in Canada, but the turnover of staff at fast food outlets.