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Labour

During question period on labour, Conservatives asked about a government change set for November 3 that they said would end the requirement for employers to prove they tried to hire a Canadian before bringing in workers from abroad, arguing this came as 68,000 Canadians lost jobs and as the Edmonton video game company BioWare closed. Liberals said the policy favours workers with Canadian work experience for high-wage jobs and simplifies hiring in fields like health care, engineering, technology and the trades, citing Canadian Chamber of Commerce support and saying the change applies to permanent residents already in Canada and cuts red tape. The immigration minister accused a Conservative member of misleading Canadians on what the measure covers.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Grant Jackson

Conservative
“A new government policy means companies will no longer have to try to hire a Canadian first. This is happening right after 68,000 Canadians lost their jobs. I want the minister to explain why those people will not get the first chance at these jobs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, starting November 3, under a new Liberal policy, corporations will not have to prove they tried to hire a Canadian first. Instead, the Liberals are siding with corporations and institutions that do not want to put in the work to hire and train Canadians. They are doing this after 68,000 Canadians lost their jobs last month. Can the immigration minister tell those 68,000 people why their government decided they do not even deserve to get a first look?

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Leslie Church

Liberal
“We prioritize workers with Canadian work experience for high-wage jobs. This makes it easier to hire skilled people in fields like health care, engineering, technology, and the trades, which keeps our economy strong.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 91 of 100

    Of this answer, 93% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we will always favour Canadian labour and Canadian workers. What we are doing is ensuring that candidates with strong Canadian work experience for job offers in high-wage occupations are prioritized. It is a simpler process for key in-demand fields and for ensuring that we can recruit top, skilled talent. We are talking about health care. We are talking about engineering, technology and the skilled trades. This is core to our ability to build a strong economy, for our economic success and for supporting Canadian businesses right across the country.

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Grant Jackson

Conservative

Linked statement

“Employers used to have to prove they tried to hire Canadians before bringing in temporary foreign workers. That rule protects Canadian wages, but the government is getting rid of it. I want to know why they think hiring Canadians first was too hard to manage.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, everything that member just said is wrong based on the immigration minister’s announcement. The rule for giving a Canadian job to a temporary foreign worker before November 3 is simple. Before they hire from abroad, they must prove they tried to hire here. That is the whole rule, and it protects Canadians from wage suppression, but the Liberals have announced that they are scrapping it. That is nuts. In the middle of an affordability crisis, which part of trying to hire a Canadian first did the immigration minister think was too tough to manage?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Our changes to the immigration system are helping our economy grow. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce supports these changes because they cut red tape and help businesses keep skilled workers.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I welcome that question. In fact, I have been waiting to answer that. We have a clear focus building the strongest economy in the G7. Let me tell you what the Canadian Chamber of Commerce just posted: We welcome these changes to Express Entry and applaud the government and Minister Diab’s endeavour to reduce red tape in the immigration system, while also ensuring that international talent remains in Canada to fill labour gaps. In particular, eliminating the LMIA requirement for qualifying job offers—

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Michelle Rempel Garner

Conservative
“BioWare is closing in Edmonton. The immigration minister just ended a rule that forced tech companies to try to hire Canadians first. What does she have to say to the workers who just lost their jobs?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as we sat here, some sombre news just broke. BioWare, an Edmonton software firm, which produced beloved video games like Mass Effect and created jobs for Edmontonians, is being shuttered. The immigration minister just scrapped the last safeguard that forces IT corporations to try to hire Canadians before offering the job to somebody from outside the country. What does she have to say to those people from BioWare who just lost their jobs and who might not get a look because of her policy decision?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“The member is misleading Canadians, and she has been here long enough to know better. This change is for permanent residents who already live here, not temporary foreign workers. It cuts red tape, makes things simpler, and helps businesses and skilled workers.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 90 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “She is continually misleading Canadians”.

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  • A repeated line

    “Let me set the record straight.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since May 28.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, let me set the record straight. The member has been in that seat for 10 or 11 years, and she knows better. She is continually misleading Canadians. This is a measure for permanent residents who are already here. This is cutting red tape and making it simpler. It is better. It is good for businesses. It is good for employers. Skilled individuals will be using it. This is not for temporary foreign workers.

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