A cabinet minister in the Harper government was warned two years ago that jobs were going to temporary foreign workers even in areas where there were Canadians available to do them, according to internal documents. In notes prepared for then-Human Resources Minister Diane Finley, HRSDC warned of a “disconnect between the Temporary Foreign Worker program” … Continue reading
As of June 30, 2013, individuals who are incarcerated and found guilty of an offence for which they are being detained will no longer be able to benefit from extensions Continue reading
When the premiers of the four Atlantic provinces met on April 29, their joint communiqué noted “significant concerns with the recent unilateral decisions of the federal government regarding skills, training and employment supports.” The four provinces expressed concerns about the Canada Job Grant, “particularly the ability of small-and medium-sized businesses to participate in the program.” … Continue reading
Speaking at the Canada 2020 Conference on Skilled Trades in the Energy Sector in Ottawa Feb. 28, Diane Finley, minister of human resources and skills development, noted labour shortages and skills mismatches have become a “dominant policy concern.” A number options are under consideration, including: • Helping Canadians make more informed career choices, including at … Continue reading
A few days ago, Chantal Hébert wrote in Le Devoir: The political risk Stephen Harper is exposed to is almost nil. The idea that EI is a burning subject in Canada is an optical illusion due to the relative proximity of those regions particularly affected by the reform. (freely translated by the author) Beyond political … Continue reading
Controversial plans to hire 201 Chinese workers at a proposed mine in northern British Columbia have prompted Ottawa to announce a review of its entire foreign worker program, with the government suggesting the case has revealed deeper problems with a system designed to fill short-term labour shortages. Human Resources Minister Diane Finley issued a statement … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Human Resources Minister Diane Finley says immediate action is required to ensure younger Canadians won’t be struggling to support the nation’s rapidly aging population. Speaking to Toronto’s Canadian Club on Tuesday, Finley stressed the urgency of revamping Old Age Security lest younger Canadians be confronted with higher taxes or fewer social programs in the future. … Continue reading