Employment Minister Jason Kenney is busy these days, acting completely shocked that McDonald's and other companies may be filling McJobs with temporary foreign workers instead of locals.
He's even asking the public, via Twitter, for help in finding wayward employers so he can crack down on abuse:
Employers who lie on LMO applications for the TFWP may be in violation of Sec 127 of IRPA, which can result in imprisonment or fines
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 7, 2014
How about just reviewing Statistics Canada's unemployment statistics and the country's weak employment rate, showing there are plenty of Canadians out of work? Then cross-reference applications from McDonald's and other companies looking for low-wage, low-skill migrant workers.
If Service CDA determines misrepresentation has occurred on LMO application, the file will be referred to CBSA for IRPA s.127 investigation.
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 7, 2014
How about just rejecting applications from companies like McDonald's seeking to fill low-wage, low-skill jobs with temporary foreign workers, knowing there are plenty of Canadians looking for work?
Anyone with evidence of employers breaking Foreign Worker Program rules should contact 1 800 367 5693 or email [email protected]
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 7, 2014
How about just checking the department's own data, showing sales and service jobs are the single biggest category. The number of TFW positions jumped from 23,650 in 2005 to 70,530 in 2012.
Or comb through all those permits in the "Accommodation and Food Services" sector (that's where those McDonald's jobs will be). The number of temporary foreign workers in these McJobs is way up, from 4,360 in 2005 to 44,740 in 2012.