MP Williams Says New Program Good Step for Employers But Where Is the Housing?

The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion,
Carla Qualtrough, announced the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program Workforce
Solutions Road Map.
Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams says “This news is a good first step. We know that there are
over 3,000 jobs in our region that need to be filled right now, however, it is important to
point out that without solutions to our ever-increasing Housing Crisis, it will be difficult for
our Bay of Quinte employers to provide the necessary accommodations.”
Effective immediately:
• To address seasonal peaks, there will no longer be a limit to the number of low-wage
positions that employers in seasonal industries, such as fish and seafood processing, can fill
through the TFW Program. This makes permanent the Seasonal Cap Exemption that has
been in place since 2015. In addition, the maximum duration of these positions will be
increased from 180 days to 270 days per year.
• Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will be valid for 18 months, an increase
from 9 months. (Prior to COVID-19, LMIA’s were valid for 6 months).
• The maximum duration of employment for High-Wage and Global Talent Streams
workers will be extended from two years to three years. This extension will help workers
access pathways to qualify for permanent residency, enabling them to contribute to our
workforce for the long-term.
Effective April 30:
• For seven sectors with demonstrated labour shortages, such as Accommodation and
Food Services, employers will be allowed to hire up to 30% of their workforce through the
TFW Program for low-wage positions for one year. All other employers will be allowed to
hire up to 20% of their workforce through the TFW Program for low-wage positions until
further notice, an increase from the former 10% cap for many employers.
• The Government will end the current policy that automatically refuses LMIA
applications for low-wage occupations in the Accommodation and Food Services and Retail
Trade sectors in regions with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher.
MP Williams adds “We have been speaking with Brad Labadie of the Centre for Workforce
Development. The Housing Crisis affects the Bay of Quinte region and all Canadians. We
continue to struggle attracting skilled people to our region because we lack the quantity and
diversity of Housing necessary.”