Temporary Foreign Worker Program revamped after CBC investigation

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The federal government announced changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Programin June,after an investigation by CBC News in Vancouver revealed potential abuses within the fast-food industry.

• Temporary foreign worker overhaul imposes limits, hikes inspections
• McDonald's accused of favouring foreign workers

In April, employees atMcDonald's locationsin Victoria told the CBC's Go Public the company prioritized Temporary Foreign Workers over local hires.

The report prompted the federal government to pass an immediate moratorium on Temporary Foreign Workers in the fast-food sector while it investigated the allegations.

In June, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced anoverhaul of the program, including caps on the number of employees an employer can hire under the program, and tougher sanctions for abuses of the system.

Businesses weren't happy with the new rules. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business called it"a gross overreaction to a handful of negative stories."

Kenney defended the reforms, saying the new rules ensure the program would only be used as a last resort.

He reported that,since the new rules came into effect, the number of applications to the Temporary Foreign Worker program dropped by 74 per cent.

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