Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole finally found something they can both agree on: letting foreign workers fill job openings during a labour shortage.
During the French-language debate on September 8, when asked how to solve labour shortages in Quebec, particularly in the Agricultural Sector, both O’Toole and Trudeau surprisingly agreed. In fact, every candidate did.
This agreement is shocking as O’Toole often touts the necessity of helping Canadians find work and creating more jobs for them, so to hear him promote immigration as a solution to a labour shortage is undoubtedly regrettable for unemployed Canadians.
“This labour shortage is a risk for every region, and we need to face this challenge,” began O’Toole.
“That’s why in my contract with Quebecers, I will give more power in immigration to Quebec. And that’s very important — particularly for foreign workers in the agricultural sector. It’s absolutely necessary to have [foreign] workers,” explained O’Toole.
“We also need to take a collaborative approach to training. And we need to reduce the emergency programs like the CRB because we have a shortage, and we need to focus on work after the pandemic,” he said.
Trudeau, of course, was all for the proposal.
When asked about the CRB’s effect on the labour shortage, Trudeau claims that the CRB and CERB did not create the shortage but that it has been here “for years.”
He then gave his solution to the problem.
“But we do recognize that for a strong recovery, a strong economic recovery, we need to support businesses, we need to support hiring, and that’s why we’ve created hiring incentives,” Trudeau began.
“And that’s why we’ll continue boosting immigration and increasing labour training — and we need direct assistance for companies. We are going to be there for people.”
Finally, a consensus, even if the two supposed opponents did not admit it. Both agree: the solution to Canadians not filling positions is to bring in more foreign workers.
Green Party Leader Annamie Paul subsequently agreed with O’Toole — again, without admitting she agreed.
“I would say that [the solution is] immigration, training, coordination, and cooperation,” stated Paul.
“We must cooperate and coordinate with companies in order to know where the shortages are, and we need to have better training that corresponds to the needs of businesses as well. And I know that the workers also want that and immigration.”
“We are a country that can welcome many people, and that is also a solution,” she concluded.
With every party supporting an influx of foreign workers, will there be any politicians left to help Canadians looking for jobs?
