After reading your story "Those left behind" in the Saturday Nov. 1 Gazette along with other articles in your paper on the same subject, I thought I'd write this letter to remind your readers why the entire Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) has come under scrutiny in the first place.
Let me start by saying that I have absolutely no resentment or ill feelings toward the Temporary Foreign Workers who left their countries to try and start a better life here in Canada. My only complaint is toward those unscrupulous employers who used them as a means to get rid of long-serving, loyal Canadian employees in order to bring in cheaper workers.
Many of these stories have been in the news, which is what prompted the federal government to make changes to the program earlier this year, and I can speak firsthand that some employers have operated in this unethical, unscrupulous manner. A close family member worked at a local establishment for more than 14 years until she was let go due to "restructuring," even though the work description of her position did not change and was eventually given to a Temporary Foreign Worker. For the past three to four years, this establishment brought in new management and they slowly let the long-term employees go for any slight infraction.
My question to the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce is: What have you done to police your own membership and ensure they are operating above board? Instead of continuing to cry about how you are now at a disadvantage due to the TFWP changes, take a moment to think of those Canadian employees who have seen their jobs systematically taken away and handed over to cheaper foreign workers, and not because they are better at what they do, but only because they are cheaper to employ. I understand not all employers have engaged in this practice, however instead of bringing in cheaper foreign workers, why not increase your benefits to make your organization more attractive to workers?
N. Ritchot, St. Albert
