Mr. Hehr: Mr. Speaker, studies, reports, audits, and this government’s own information confirms that the temporary foreign worker program is leaving newcomers to Alberta vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. 

To the Minister of Employment and Immigration: when will this minister end the abuses by ensuring that there are no more second-class citizens in Alberta’s workforce?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a good question because it’s a matter that’s very, very important to me not only as minister but also personally. Resources are now put in place not only allowing but encouraging foreign workers to report any and all conduct that may be unbecoming in the province. Not only are we putting out the information in English, but we are now capable of accepting complaints in more than 150 – that’s one, five, zero – languages. Every time a complaint comes in, it is being duly investigated.

Mr. Hehr: The minister claims that he can do nothing about this program, but a suggestion I have is: why doesn’t he go to the federal government and renegotiate our immigration accord to eliminate this toxic program?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, I object to the language. A program that gives people in different countries a chance to come to this fabulous province and earn a good living and, by doing so, assist our economy and its growth is definitely not toxic. There is nothing toxic about foreign workers either. They are individuals that are protected the same way as all Alberta workers are protected. But it is a federal program. Some aspects of it are administered by the province, and I’m doing my utmost and our front-line workers are doing their utmost to make sure that all workers are well protected.

Mr. Hehr: I agree with the minister’s comments in that the people are here doing great jobs and great work for our community. They’re good enough to serve lunch at our counters, to help me get out of bed, to do other things in our community. Why aren’t they good enough to become citizens of this great province right off the hop?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, again a very good question. My suggestion to this member would be that, come the next federal election, he run as a Member of Parliament and raises that question there because the issuance of visas and permanent resident status is federal. However, I will be raising issues within the program to the federal government, the government who created this program in the first place and administers the program.

Alberta Hansard, March 25, 2010

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