A former temporary foreign worker-turned-immigration consultant says the federal government's recent moratorium on the program has left many of the region's Filipino workers in limbo.
Mar Bandelaria, a former officer with the Kalipi South Peace Filipino Association who now runs an immigration consulting business, said the freeze on applications for foreign workers in the fast food industry has left many of her countrymen scrambling to find ways to stay in Canada.
Federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney announced the freeze after it was revealed several restaurants had abused the program by hiring foreign workers when Canadian labour was available.
As well, a concurrent report from the non-partisan Howe Institute found that Canada's labour market information was too sketchy to declare a labour shortage.
Business owners in Dawson Creek have told both the local Chamber of Commerce and elected officials that the freeze is affecting their ability to do business – with some claiming the shortage could lead to shortened hours of operation or at least partial closures.
But Bandelaria says that the workers are in an even more precarious position.
"The people who are trying to extend their stay, they're lost," said Bandelaria. "If their work permit is about to expire, I'm worried they'll have to look for other avenues to stay here in Canada legally."
As part of the freeze, restaurant owners may no longer apply for Labour Market Opinions (LMO), one of the documents required to bring foreign workers to Canada.
According to Immigration Canada's website, an employer must have a positive LMO to prove "that there is a need for the foreign worker to fill the job ... and that there is no Canadian worker available to do the job."
More than 48,000 Filipinos are in Canada on positive LMOs, according to government data from 2012, situating the Philippines as Canada's largest source of temporary foreign labour.
However, "I've known quite a few people who have had trouble getting an LMO in the past couple of months," said Bandelaria.
There are other options for temporary foreign workers looking to stay in Canada. Bandaleria said she successfully made the shift from temporary foreign worker to permanent resident, but added the immigration process favours skilled immigrants who have money. That makes it more difficult for those in entry-level jobs to stay in Canada.
Those workers are more likely to try to extend their stay through another work permit, Bandelaria said. And, she argued, they deserve the chance to at least reapply.
"They've already contributed, they've acclimatized, they have already adapted to the Canadian culture," she said. "Maybe the federal government could give them a chance by unfreezing this program for those who are already here."
"If they want to cut off the program, then they have to cut off the program – but at least be compassionate to the people who are already here," she added.
As to whether Filipinos in the Peace have experienced discrimination as a result of the renewed debate around foreign workers, Bandelaria said she had not personally witnessed any.
"At first, there was some resistance from Canadian co-workers, because they perceived us as a threat," she said. "But as time goes on, they see how we work, they see our passion. So they have been very accepting."
