OTTAWA - Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country, held a roundtable session in Kelowna last week to discuss ongoing problems with labour shortages. Participants included the Temporary Foreign Worker Unit, Service Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada along with representatives from the agricultural and hospitality sectors, the Economic Development Commission, and the Regional District of the Central Okanagan.

“We are facing some tough challenges here in the Okanagan Valley,” said Cannan. “Labour and skill shortages are inhibiting the Region’s economic growth particularly in the agricultural and hospitability/tourism sectors. It’s critical that we address the shortages immediately.”
Cannan said the Federal Government has been working to address the industry’s concerns by taking steps to streamline the immigration and temporary worker programs.

“The Government is aware that the system can be more efficient and is taking steps to make immigration and visa processing requirements more straightforward for business,” he said.

Cannan said he has already spoken with the Ministers for Citizenship and Immigration and Human Resources and Social Development on a number of other initiatives suggested at the roundtable which would provide access to a greater labour pool.

These initiatives include Off-Campus Worker Permits for foreign students who are enrolled in a recognized post-secondary institution, a Working Holiday Visa Program which would allow foreign visitors to apply for a work visa while travelling in Canada, and the extension of the Reciprocal Labour Agreement into sectors such as agriculture.

“The roundtable was a productive way to bring all parties together to determine what needs to be done. I hope to follow up with additional meetings specifically with representatives from the hospitality and trade industries to further explore their concerns,” he said.

“We must continue to improve immigration and skills development programs at the federal, provincial and local levels to help our businesses and industries grow. We have excellent opportunities in the Region for economic growth. We have to make a concerted effort to get rid of the red tape that is stopping us from hiring the people who can do the jobs,” he concluded.

For more information contact Ron @ 613 992-7006