In The News: Alpa On Suspension Of Foreign Worker Program In Food Services Sector ... - Canada Newswire (Press Release)

[In The News]

ALPA on Suspension of Foreign Worker Program in Food Services Sector ... Canada NewsWire (press release) OTTAWA, April 30, 2014 /CNW/ - The Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) issued the following statement in response to Employment and Social Development Canada's recent moratorium on the food services sector's access to the Temporary Foreign ... Canadian helicopter pilots shut out of jobs by temporary foreign workersVancouver Desi Helicopter pilots say they're shut out of jobs by temporary foreign workersMontreal Gazette all 12 news articles »

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[Guest longtimer]

Seems that the problem is starting to get attention.

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/politics/archives/2014/05/20140506-214522.html

Use of temporary foreign pilots criticized

9:45 pm, May 6th, 2014

DAVID P. BALL | QMI AGENCY

VANCOUVER ─ Airline pilots are raising concerns about temporary foreign workers being hired by several Canadian carriers to fly their planes overseas.

"A couple airlines have been hiring foreign seasonal pilots, while at the same time there's been Canadian pilots available to do the work, and in a lot of cases unemployed pilots," Capt. Dan Adamus, with the Air Line Pilots Association, told QMI Agency. "We know darn well these pilots are qualified for the job."

Employment and Social Development Canada says it's "putting in place new guidelines" for using the controversial Temporary Foreign Worker Program - a long-sought, but positive step, said Adamus, a pilot of 30 years.

Adamus said pilots have been raising red flags about the practices of two Canadian airlines, Sunwing and Canjet, which advertised pilot jobs on overseas routes requiring specific training on aircraft infrequently used here.

According to an Oct. 23 memo to Employment Minister Jason Kenney, obtained Tuesday by the NDP-affiliated website Press Progress, the minister has long known of ALPA's concerns the two carriers "are systematically excluding Canadian pilots from applying for seasonal work and using foreign pilots."

Since then, Canada consulted airline industry officials and increased the notice airlines must give proving they couldn't find qualified Canadians to six months.

"This will ensure that recruitment requirements are consistent with industry norms and do not disadvantage Canadian or permanent resident job applicants," said a ministry spokesman.