EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - April 12, 2013) - The Alberta Coalition for Action on Labour Shortages (ACALS), which includes representatives from every major sector of Alberta's economy, is calling Alberta Federation of Labour allegations of widespread fraud in the accelerated stream of the federal Temporary Foreign Worker program (TFW) unduly provocative and exaggerated.
"There are perennial critics who believe the TFW program in all its forms should be eliminated completely. In an effort to turn public opinion against foreign workers and the important role they play in helping to address acute labour shortages, some critics continue to make over-stated claims in the media" stated Richard Truscott, Alberta Director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB).
Truscott was responding to allegations made by the Alberta Federation of Labour that there was widespread abuse of the Accelerated Labour Market Opinion (A-LMO) process that was announced by the Federal Government in April 2012. ACALS members applauded the accelerated program because it reduced the processing of applications from months to a matter of days. To be eligible to apply for accelerated processing, qualifying employers must have a track record of compliance with employment, labour and immigration standards and rules. Part of the process also includes ensuring that eligible employers are subjected to potentially more rigorous audits of their operations once the workers are in place.
"We recognize that finding qualified employees is primarily the responsibility of employers, and we take that responsibility seriously," said Jim Rivait, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders' Association - Alberta. "Coalition members continue to up-train and re-train their employees to better meet workforce challenges, and tapping into non-traditional markets in Canada and abroad."
Over the past few years, government and industry have effectively worked together to ensure Canadians are given the first chance to benefit from these opportunities. These initiatives include:
- Investing in career awareness, scholarships, and training and outreach initiatives such as apprenticeship.
- Actively recruiting workers across Canada, seeking to employ Canadians who have the necessary skills and who are prepared to come to Alberta.
- Pursuing continuous improvement and maximizing the productivity of business operations to make the best use of existing staff.
Despite these ongoing efforts, there remains a shortfall of available workers domestically to fill the needs of the growing economy.
In 2012, the Conference Board of Canada predicted that Alberta would create over 130,000 net new jobs over two years and the Alberta government forecast that there would be shortage of 114,000 more jobs than people to fill them in coming years. According to Statistics Canada, Alberta workers continue to receive the highest wages in the country. Alberta also consistently experiences extremely low unemployment rates.
While the Coalition recognizes that there may be some isolated problem cases, the Federal Government, as indicated in the recent budget and in meetings prior to the tabling of the budget that it is reviewing measures to ensure all immigration programs are responding appropriately to Canada's economic and social needs. With the one year anniversary of the A-LMO process upon us, the Coalition believes it is premature to conclude that program rules are being flagrantly violated because the Federal Government has not yet had time to conduct the employer audits that were part and parcel of the process when it was developed and introduced.
Alberta Enterprise President Tim Shipton stated, "The TFW program continues to be an important recruitment tool of last resort for employers that are unable to find workers in Alberta and Canada and must at the same time take care of their customers. It's important that we do not throw out the baby with the bath water when dealing with isolated cases of non-compliance. Members of the Alberta Coalition for Action on Labour Shortages look forward to participating in consultation discussions with all levels of government and all stakeholders to ensure that all immigration programs are achieving results that are in the interests of all Albertans and Canadians."
Attention editors: Please see the following backgrounder for more information, and to contact businesses who use immigration programs to meet labour requirements.
BACKGROUNDER: The Alberta Coalition for Action on Labour Shortages (ACALS)
- ACALS members collectively employ hundreds of thousands of Albertans and represent every sector area of the province - from small businesses to large employers.
- The coalition came together in late 2011 to identify areas of common interest and work together to identify solutions.
The Alberta Coalition for Action on Labour Shortages is:
| Alberta Construction Association |
| Alberta Chambers of Commerce |
| Alberta Enterprise Group |
| Alberta Forest Products Association |
| Alberta Motor Transport Association |
| Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association |
| Calgary Chamber of Commerce |
| Calgary Economic Development |
| Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors |
| Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors |
| Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers |
| Canadian Energy Pipeline Association |
| Canadian Federation of Independent Business |
| Canadian Home Builders' Association-Alberta |
| Canadian Institute of Steel Construction |
| Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters |
| Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association |
| Consulting Engineers of Alberta |
| Edmonton Economic Development Corporation |
| Landscape Alberta |
| Merit Contractors Association |
| Petroleum Human Resources Council / Enform |
| Petroleum Services Association of Canada |
| Progressive Contractors Association of Canada |
| Retail Council of Canada |
ACALS member companies are utilizing immigration to meet Alberta's workforce needs
For more information on how various Alberta businesses are attempting to use immigration programs to meet labour requirements, and the challenges they face, please contact any of the supporting organizations.
Alberta Coalition for Action on Labour Shortages (ACALS)
Participating Organization Media Contacts :
| Alberta Construction Association: Ken Gibson, Executive Director Ph: 780-455-1122 |
| Alberta Chambers of Commerce: Ken Kobly, President and CEO Ph: 780-425-4180 ext 5 TF:1-800-272-8854 ext 5 C: 780-975-1659 |
| Alberta Enterprise Group: David McLean, Vice-President Communications Ph: 780-481-7205 C: 780-965-4691 |
| Alberta Forest Products Association: Brock Mulligan, Director of Communications C: 780-239-6890 |
| Alberta Motor Transport Association: Don Wilson, Executive Director Ph: 403-214-3429 |
| Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association: Heidi Harris-Jensen, Director of External Affairs Ph: 780-436-9860 |
| Calgary Economic Development: Jeanette Sutherland Manager of Workforce and Productivity Ph: 403.221.7898 C: 587.227.7712 |
| Canadian Federation of Independent Business: Richard Truscott, Director of Provincial Affairs Ph: 403-444-9290 C: 403-971-9291 |
| Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors: Nancy Malone, Vice President Operations Ph: 403 264- 4311 ext.111 |
| Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers: Tony McCallum, Advisor, MediaRelations Ph .403-267-1142) |
| Consulting Engineers of Alberta: Ken Pilip, CEO & Registrar/Sheldon Hudson Vice-President Ph: 780-421-1852 |
| Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors: Mike Doyle, President Ph: 403-265-0045 |
| Canadian Energy Pipeline Association: Kim McCaig, Vice President & COO Ph: 403-221-8779 |
| Canadian Home Builders' Association-Alberta: Jim Rivait, CEO Ph: 780-424-5890 Ext 225 TF: 800-661-3348 C: 780-915-8546 |
| Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters: Mathew Wilson, Vice President National Policy & Alberta, (647) 808-8231. |
| Canadian Restaurant & Foodservices Association: Mark von Schellwitz, Vice President Western Canada Ph: 1- 866-300-7675 or cell 604-809-5719. |
| Edmonton Economic Development Corporation: Renee Worrell, Communications Manager, External Relations Ph. 780-917-7894 |
| Merit Contractors Association: Bill Stewart, Vice-President Ph. 780-454-5512 C: 780-695-6798 |
| Petroleum Services Association of Canada: Elizabeth Aquin, Sr. Vice President Ph. 403-264-4195 TF: 800-818- 7722. |
| Progressive Contractors Association of Canada: Paul de Jong, Executive Director Ph:403 620 3781 |
