New N.B. coalition formed to challenge changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Above watch: The Maritime Seafood Coalition is challenging changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Global’s Brion Robinson looks at their work.

CAP-PELÉ, N.B. – A new coalition including fishermen and seafood processing plants is challenging changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Nat Richard speaks for Westmorland Fisheries Ltd. in Cap-Pelé and says the business joined the Coalition because it depends on foreign workers to sustain the growing seafood processing industry.

“We’ve grown and have been able to expand our operations and one of the ways we’ve been able to do it is by having foreign workers compliment our local workers,” he said.

The Coalition says the federal government needs to take the chronic labour shortage in the seafood sector seriously.

Richard says it can be difficult to recruit locals to work during peak fishing season.

“Fish plants offer employment but they’re tough working conditions and it’s not for everyone and they can be long hours,” he said. “We have to keep pace with the landings and wet conditions so its physically demanding work.”

Richard says foreign workers from Mexico, Jamaica and the Philippines help meet their growing needs and he worries not having temporary foreign workers could hold back the industry.

“If we have significant reductions of the processing capacity in the Maritimes some say there could be as much as 20-25 per cent reductions in the processing capacity,” he said. “It has implications on the harvesters as well I mean the fishermen need to have a home to sell their lobster.”

The federal government says the changes will improve transparency and accountability with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

But a spokesman for New Brunswick’s Filipino community says changes, which include work place time limits and caps on low wage positions, don’t help members who depend on the fishing industry for additional income.

Roland Moreno is the founding and past president of the Filipino-Canadian CommUNITY of New Brunswick Inc.

“It basically changes for them how they plan ahead and provide for the future of their families,” he said.

Moreno says the Coalition’s work helps the seafood sector and communities that depend on their business.

“There’s four things we have to look at,” he said. “The foreign workers, employers, the community and the immigration agency. Those are the four core institutions that basically will help together to make New Brunswick a better place to live.”