Fast track immigration

We applaud the decision of the government to cut back the program bringing temporary foreign workers to Canada where they are taking away jobs from Canadians. That program was unfair to Canadians at the bottom of the economic ladder and bad social policy. We need to make low-wage jobs attractive enough that they are filled by Canadians — even if that means we have to pay a little more for our coffee or hamburger.

However, we are concerned with the injustice the temporary foreign workers who are already here are experiencing. They paid employment agents who arranged the jobs, left their families behind and chose to come to Canada with the expectation that they would have up to four years’ work here. Now we have changed the rules for them. This is unfair. They should be allowed to finish their contracts under the (old) rules. Many came with hopes of progressing to landed immigrant status. Those who qualify should be fast tracked. Many temporary foreign workers are overqualified for the work they are doing and will make great contributions to Canada.