Perhaps Pigs Can Fly

Douglas Todd, in his column in the Vancouver Sun Today, writes that it appears that there is agreement between economists for both the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Fraser Institute, with regard to the need to examine Canada's policies related to the fast-rising use of foreign temporary workers in Canada.

According to Todd, although the reasons for agreement differ, the two policy organizations each have reservations about the negative effects of our country's increasing use of temporary foreign workers, particularly the use to fill unskilled positions.

The Fraser Institute economist apparently is concerned that the use of temporary foreign workers may cause Canadian low-wage earners to hesitate to invest in the on-going training they require.  My own sense is that this problem is made worse by the fact that governments across the country are continuing to transfer to the price of tuition, the burden of ongoing education.  Hence the combination of limited personal resources and increasing direct tuition costs has dramatically increased the economic barrier to continuing education.

And, of course, I very much liked the insight of the Centre for Policy Alternatives economist, when he observed, as quoted by Todd, "firms claim there is a 'shortage' of workers; what is implicitly meant is that they cannot find workers at the wage they are offering."  And I would add, there is also an issue around working conditions.  Agricultural workers being the perhaps the most exploited in this regard.  Having watched my university-student son over the past few years, work in low-paying jobs from berry picking, the fast-food industry, to for-profit recreational services, it is clear that there is often marginal concern on the part of employers for minimal work standards.  It is also clear that such jobs are increasingly the domain of temporary foreign workers.

Wouldn't it be nice if a non-ideological way could be found for addressing this issue in an intelligent manner.  It ought not to be ignored.