Feds to crack down on abuse of temporary foreign worker program

The federal government plans to crack down on employers misusing the temporary foreign worker program.

The program was initially used to fill jobs if qualified Canadians were not available.

More businesses signed on for the program after the pandemic, causing an 88 per cent jump in applicants from 2019 to last year.

Employment minister Randy Boissonnault says the temporary foreign worker program cannot be used to circumvent hiring Canadian workers.

He warns the government is also considering increasing the program’s fees.

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