A pilot project will allow eligible employers needing workers in 12 specific occupations to receive their Labour Market Opinions much faster than in the past. A Labour Market Opinion assesses the potential impact hiring a foreign worker will have on Canada’s labour market.

To qualify for the pilot project, employers must confirm in writing that:
(a) they have made reasonable efforts to hire or train Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
(b) there is not a labour dispute in progress at the employer's workplace; and
(c) the working conditions, including the wages to be paid, meet the minimum acceptable working conditions for the occupation.

The E-LMO Pilot Project applies to the following 12 occupations: carpenters, crane operators, hotel and hospitality room attendants, hotel front desk clerks, food and beverage servers, food counter attendants, tour and travel guides, registered nurses, dental technicians, pharmacists, snowboard and ski instructors, and retail sales persons and sales clerks.

These occupations represent about 25 per cent of the combined volume of regular requests for labour market opinions in Alberta and BC. The occupations are from sectors where labour market information indicates that the hiring of temporary foreign workers will not have a negative impact on the Canadian labour market.

This is a pilot project, which will be measured for success, and depending on results, will be expanded to include additional occupations.

Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and BC Ministers Colin Hansen and Illich made the announcements in a joint statement last week. Mr Hansen is Minister of Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative and the Olympics for British Columbia, while Ms Illich is the province’s Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services.

They also said the federal government and the province are working together to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen protections for temporary foreign workers. A similar agreement with Alberta was announced in July.

“Canada’s New Government is taking steps to improve the Temporary Foreign Worker program so we can help ease some of the pressures businesses face when dealing with labour shortages,” said Mr Solberg. “The pilot project we are introducing today represents a real shift in the way we do business.”

Mr Hansen said: “Hiring temporary foreign workers is an important way for employers in British Columbia to address increasing labour shortages and remain competitive in our global economy.”

Keith Sashaw, President of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association, said: “I’m glad to hear that construction is one of the sectors covered by the pilot. Speeding up the process will really help the construction industry in Vancouver.”
Mr Solberg added that it is vital to protect the rights of these workers while they are in Canada.

“By developing a Memorandum of Understanding with British Columbia, we want to ensure measures are in place to protect foreign workers from exploitation or unsafe working conditions,” he said.

The Federal government and the BC provincial government are developing a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate information sharing, and will recognize the importance of ensuring the safe and just employment of temporary foreign workers in the economy.

“Through better co-ordination between our levels of government we will be working to ensure all workers in BC have their rights protected,” said Ms Ilich.

Jerry Lampert, President and CEO of the Business Council of BC, said:

“We think this is a balanced approach meeting the immediate needs of employers and at the same time ensuring foreign temporary workers are protected. We can learn a lot from this 12 month pilot.”

In Budget 2007, Ottawa committed an additional $50.5 million over two years to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to reduce processing delays, and respond more effectively to regional labour and skill shortages, so employers could better meet their human resource needs.

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