HOW THE FEDS SOLD OUT OUR LABOUR FORCE series of social media posts by a prominent academic have raised concerns about this country’s Tempo- rary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP). Specifically, it focused on how recent changes to the program are wreaking havoc on the labour market. Dr. Mike Moffatt is an assistant professor at Ivey School of Busi- ness in London, Ont. anda senior director at the Smart Prosperity Institute at the University of Ottawa. He’s also co-host of the podcast The Missing Middle and a self-professed progressive. Ina thread posted on X, Moffat explains how the number of temporary foreign workers allowed into this country nearly tripled in 2022. (This program is separate from the one that allows in agricultural workers.) “The federal government made some massive changes a mere 13 days after the Liberals and NDP signed the Supply and Confi- dence Agreement,” he says. That deal gave the NDP more power than they’ve ever had, he points out. “The Liberals specifically knew that doubling temporary foreign workers would suppress wages. They said so back in 2013-14. And in 2023, their government more 6 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2024 ESTABLISHED 41860 Ae eto EDITO Published weekly by the Mitchell Advocate, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Deadline for letters to the editor is Fridays at 9 a.m. the week prior to publicati than doubled them,” he said. “The low-wage stream allows Canadian employers to hire tem- porary foreign workers for jobs that pay less than the provincial median wage.” On April 4, 2022, less than two weeks after the Liberals and NDP Believe it or not, | can follow simple instructions E-mail to: MITCHELL ADVOCATE wondered. “Arm wrestle? Watch signed their pact, the federal gov- ernment massively deregulated ‘TFWP to “address current job vacancies across many sectors and occupations.” The rule that allowed an Saesaaueee employer to have only 10 per cent of its pugritone be tempo- Other than my own almost 32 years de rary workers and ago, and Ul ni the number raised to 20 per cent. d ti th I questioned their Insome industries ike “accom- | Whenitcomes to we peg mere bandiedabout modation and fast food services,” it was increased to 30 per cent. The rule that for some occu- pations a temporary foreign worker could not be brought in ifthe unemployment rate was 6 ding?” and I shrug my shoulders percent or higher was waived, _| and respond with “I hope so.” making some employersinsome | Imsure the list of duties will | There’s a lot that goes into them, obviously, and as we get set for my oldest son’s nuptials in a | few weeks, I really haven’t done a’ | whole lot. People have started to ask, “are you ready for the wed- oh oT tregi | increase as the day draws closer, ae saan wut as I experienced from the erga ee | outside looking in these past AUnited Nations “special | few weeks as the females in rapporteur” this week criticized | our house prepared for a bridal the program. “Agriculture and | shower that took place without low-wage streams of the Tempo- | SOS ago Sunday, it’s Be OED | * even Rreddigghetredsotes constitute a breeding ground for | | picked up on the stressful vibes. contemporary forms of slavery,” There were lists to make, maps said Tomoya Obokata. to draw, photos of the venue to Not quite the workers' paradise | t#ke (which I did... there's my part E complete) so more maps could be the NDP promised. | -awn, food to purchase, signs to Ifa Conservative government | make, more food to buy, games to had done this, there would be create, prints to make (I get the pitchforks on the streets. When | tough “chai as you can see) ... and 3 so on, an Liberals and NDP do it, all we get ar isyeonal ae pe are yawns. | into such occasions. I was told ~Postmedia | that in no uncertain terms more sation for days saksadl ee time. My youngest son s: ly eet out of the fray b but being the inquisitive sort, it’s my nature to ask questions. It’s in my blood, I guess you could say. So, Lasker When the females bothered to respond to such inane Boe sree = they generally ign with “you just don’t get it.” Yup, I don’t. That’s why I’m asking about it just to see if I could find a way for my pea brain toeven ja asliver of hope of “getting Inever “did; and I don’t think I ever will. The day finally arrived, and may lone task was simple: Pick up three dozen cupcakes and deliver them to the hall, timing my arriv- al so I could assist in unloading the two or three vehicles worth of stuff that had been accumulat- ed for the three-hour event. The girls wanted to arrive two hours before the shower started. “Well, what were they going to do for the other 90-minutes?” I My wife d me they wouldn’t have time to sit around; there was just too much to do. Really? tr arrived a little later than intended with the cupcakes, deliv- ering all 36 safe and sound, and even found a spot for them in the fridge so they'd be perfect when it came time to set them out. I felt a sense of accomplish- ment that I had carried out my part of the plan effortlessly. I fortunately didn’t have to set anything else out, and most o! the decorating and designing was done when I arrived. I was just there to nibble ona few scraps of food (I didn’t think they’d notice) before vacating the premises an let the girls do what they do on such occasions. By all reports the shower was lovely and nary a complaint was heard. Not that I was too wor- ried, but the girls had every detail looked after. It seems to me this wedding thing will come off without a hitch. I just wonder if I’ll have to pi ick up any cupcakes ... but I’m ind of afraid to ask.