P.E.I. planning phased approach for Temporary Foreign Workers Protection Act
CBC
More than a year after P.E.I.'s Temporary Foreign Workers Protection Act received royal assent it has still not been proclaimed.
The act aims to provide additional protection for the workers, beyond those outlined in the provincial Employment Standards Act. Temporary foreign workers are considered uniquely vulnerable, because the work permits they receive through the federal program tie them to a single employer.
"If there's any issues at that workplace they can't just pick up shop and leave and go to another employer. It doesn't work that way. Because of that dynamic the workers have all the incentives to just keep their head down, stay quiet, work long hours and don't complain," said Ryan MacRea, migrant worker program coordinator with the Cooper Institute.
"They don't want to stir up the pot too much because if they do they fear they're going to be fired or they're not going to be asked back the following year."
Temporary foreign workers are crucial to the operation of P.E.I.'s agriculture industry, representing an estimated 40 per cent of workers in the sector.
Last year, CBC P.E.I. reported on a situation on one particular farm where 22 temporary foreign workers were granted open work permits. Open work permits are an escape clause in the event that migrant workers find themselves in abusive situations.
In recognition of the particular vulnerabilities of migrant workers, the P.E.I. Legislature passed the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act, which received royal assent in May of last year, but it still needs to be proclaimed to come into force.
In an emailed statement to CBC News, the province said it was still working on regulations connected to the act.
"The next steps will include the introduction of licensing requirements for recruiters of temporary foreign workers," the statement said.
"Following that, the department will work on introducing a new employer registry, which requires employers who hire TFWs to register with the province."
The act will be proclaimed using a phased approach over the course of this year, the email said.
One of Prince Edward Island’s last surviving Second World War veterans has died.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada has too much regulation and not enough investments in clean energy and technology — and he's making his most direct repudiation yet of his predecessor's environmental policies.
WARNING: This story contains distressing content, including racist, violent and antisemitic language.
A national Jewish advocacy organization is taking legal action against Manitoba's medical regulator over a complaint it made last year alleging a prominent doctor made antisemitic comments on social media.
A cat that went missing in a remote area of northeastern B.C. is finally back home with its family in Oklahoma, five months later.
It wasn’t clear trolleys would be a hit in Medicine Hat, but the Sunshine Trolley has wound its way into Hatters’ hearts.
More than 200 volunteers and politicians gathered in Etobicoke Saturday for the Daily Bread Food Bank’s holiday sort.
The rising cost-of-living has already made supporting a family difficult this year. But, the holidays can make staying on budget that much harder.
Strong winds across the Maritimes left thousands of N.B. Power customers without electricity on Saturday afternoon — and it could be days before all customers have their power restored.
Toronto police say they located a body inside a downtown Toronto home Saturday.
Quebec Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge is responding to public outcry against his government’s policy changes for non-permanent residents by making a plea to the federal government.
A man in Saskatoon is in hospital after being shot by police as officers executed a warrant late Friday night.
RCMP say a man who was reported missing near Key First Nation has been found deceased.