Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - February 2009
Despite the current economic slowdown and rising unemployment rate, Canada still needs foreign workers to fill many job positions that remain vacant, according to many employers, consultants and immigration experts.
There are still numerous positions available in such industries as hospitality and tourism – particularly in the Western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta and foreign workers remain a vital resource.
Experts such as consultant Christine Stoneman, who works frequently with employers in the hospitality industry, have recently been forced to defend the notion of Canadian companies recruiting internationally as the unemployment rate rises within the country.
Last week Senator Pierrette Ringuette sparked controversy when she stated that during this difficult economic time, the government would best serve its citizens by enforcing a “Canadians first” policy when it comes to hiring.
That sort of policy, however, is simply not an option for some companies says Stoneman. Many employers are not able to find Canadians with the necessary skills or skill-levels to fill the vacant positions. Oftentimes, foreign recruitment as used as a “last resort.”
“It has nothing to do with the number of people in Canada who are unemployed,” said Stoneman in an interview with the Vancouver Sun. “Yes, that number is up. But we are not getting the person out of auto plants or mining or forestry, the resource sectors, going out to be room attendants either.”
Source: Vancouver Sun
