NDP calls for pathways to citizenship for TFWs

OTTAWA – The NDP is concerned that the Conservatives’ woeful management of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is destroying the opportunity for temporary foreign workers to obtain citizenship, while robbing employers of their experienced staff.

As a result of changes made by the Conservatives, temporary foreign workers who have been employed in Canada for four years or more will now be forced to leave the country on Apr. 1, costing some of them their chance at obtaining permanent residency.

“These workers had the courage to come to Canada, and they worked hard, followed the rules and contributed to our economy because they were told they could eventually apply for Canadian citizenship.

This Conservative government has broken that promise,” said NDP Citizenship and Immigration critic Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds – Dollard).

The NDP has sent a letter to Ministers Pierre Poilievre and Chris Alexander, calling on them to allow temporary foreign workers who have applied for permanent residency to remain in Canada.

This would also allow employers, who have invested time and money to train these workers, to keep their experienced employees.

“The Conservatives have systematically taken away pathways to citizenship for lower-skilled temporary foreign workers. And now, with this completely arbitrary deadline, they are forcing individuals who have already applied for permanent residency to leave the country,” added NDP Employment and Social Development critic Jinny Sims (Newton – North Delta).