Canada | UI Recipients to fill labour shortages, even in seasonal jobs

Ottawa is preparing to tackle one of the country’s most sensitive labour questions: Why won’t healthy, unemployed Canadians get their hands dirty?

The Conservative government is preparing legislative and policy changes that, for the first time, will link the federal Employment Insurance program to the Temporary Foreign Worker program.

A spokesperson for Human Resources Minister Diane Finley would not give details of the changes, saying the minister will announce them over the coming weeks and months.

This is the latest aspect of the government’s focus on current and looming labour shortages. Ottawa wants to help satisfy the steady demand for unskilled labourers who are willing to work physically demanding jobs that may pay little more than the minimum wage.

The changes will ultimately be announced by Ms. Finley, but Immigration Minister Jason Kenney opened a political can of worms this week by asking why employers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. are bringing in temporary workers when those provinces have persistently high unemployment.

Source:

Read more @ Ottawa looks to unemployed Canadians to fill labour shortages – The Globe and Mail.

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