Montréal, April 20, 2015 ‒ The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal calls on the federal government to work with the Government of Quebec to review its reform of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which takes effect April 30, 2015, to better adapt it to the economic and demographic challenges of Quebec and Montréal.
“The reform proposed by the federal government will hamper the economic development of Quebec and Montréal,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “It will limit business access to temporary labour, at a time when labour availability is a major issue for the sustainability and development of businesses and sectors of activity.”
More specialized foreign talent: key to the city’s economic growth
The program’s reform affects access to the strategic talent required for important high-value-added sectors. “If we take the video game industry as an example, this is a sector that operates on creative cycles with targeted needs over a short period of time,” Michel Leblanc said. “The federal government’s reform will jeopardize the completion of major projects and investment in innovative sectors. With shorter and more demanding project cycles and increasingly intense competition for attracting companies and talent, Greater Montréal’s competitiveness and economic development are at stake.”
Access to lower-skilled temporary labour also essential for a number of the city’s seasonal sectors
“The government must provide employers greater flexibility in hiring seasonal labour,” Michel Leblanc said. “The condition limiting access to these workers to regions where the unemployment rate is over 6% is unrealistic for the city. In the three sectors targeted (hotels, retail and restaurants), companies have established a business model that includes temporary and seasonal workers: by restricting access to temporary foreign workers, the federal government is putting these businesses at risk, along with thousands of jobs for Quebeckers.”
Red tape: a hurdle to SME development
The government’s reform concerning the transition plan to local labour creates red tape for the city’s businesses, particularly SMEs. “The reform requires companies that use temporary foreign workers to produce additional administrative documents,” Michel Leblanc said. “We urge the government to honour its commitment to reduce administrative and regulatory red tape for SMEs. It should instead be streamlining the procedure and processing times for requests for temporary foreign workers. The government must encourage businesses to invest at a time when economic recovery depends on increasing private investment, including in fields where economic activity is seasonal.”
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Th Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has over 7,000 members. Its mission is to be the voice of Montréal’s business community and to promote the city’s prosperity. It is involved in key areas of economic development, advocating a philosophy of action based on engagement, credibility, proactivity, collaboration and innovation. The Board of Trade also offers a range of specialized services to individuals and to business of all sizes to support them in their growth at home and abroad.
- 30 -
Source:
Michelle LLambias Meunier
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4042
mllambias@ccmm.qc.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chambremontreal
Twitter: @chambremontreal
Follow the discussion: #ccmmqcca