Canadian Chamber of Commerce Says Canada's Immigration System Is in Crisis

 

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce says Canada's immigration system is in crisis. The chamber is warning that the country's temporary foreign worker program is in dire need of a complete overhaul. The chamber sent a letter to the ministers of labor and immigration in the wake of growing calls to end the program.

Diana Palmerin-Velasco, senior director of the chamber's Future of Work division, said there is little connection between youth unemployment and temporary foreign workers. The immigration system is in a major crisis, and it is not working well for newcomers and employers. But she said it is important to remember that immigration is an economic necessity. She said most young people between the ages of 15 and 24 are not applying for the types of jobs that temporary workers take. She said such jobs are mostly in rural areas. The chamber also pointed out that sectors such as agriculture, construction, and food processing are facing a persistent labor shortage.