It’s likely that meat packers and food processors will be
equally satisfied.
“Restaurants
Canada welcomes the repeal of a 2011 regulation that limits temporary foreign
workers to a maximum of four years in Canada.
“This is
an important first step in making this program a pathway to permanent residency,”
says Restaurants Canada in a news release.
“Most
foreign workers come to Canada with the hopes and dreams of staying in this
country,” says Joyce Reynolds, Restaurants Canada’s Executive Vice President for
Government Affairs.
“Often
they’re brought in because of permanent – not temporary – labour shortages, and
their employers want to help them stay.
‘After
putting down roots in communities where they’re badly needed, it’s devastating
for workers and their employers when they’re required to leave.”
Restaurants
Canada also welcomed “confirmation that the 20 per cent cap will remain in
place, rather than having it drop to 10 per cent as the previous government
regulated.”
The cap
is the maximum percentage of the company’s workforce that can be brought in
under the program.
This “will
also provide some hope for employers – particularly in small and remote
communities, where there are no other options to hire workers,” Restaurants
Canada says.
“Extension
to 2018 of the 180-day exemption from regulations for seasonal employers is
also welcome, especially for restaurants in resort communities with perpetual
worker shortages in peak seasons.
“The
restaurant industry remains committed to hiring Canadians first.
“It is
proud of its diverse and inclusive workforce, and its record of hiring from
groups otherwise underrepresented in the country’s labour force,” Restaurants Canada
says.
