Local business owners are starting to feel the pressure of two looming deadlines for the Temporary Foreign Worker program.
The federally implemented changes to the program go into effect on January 1, while a large amount of TFW’s will be going home come April when the vast majority of permits will be expiring.
Grande Prairie Chamber of Commerce Past Chair Shawna Miller says there is work being done to look at other avenues of replacing those TFW spots.
“It’s not just about the TFW program, there’s lots of other initiatives that businesses are taking to try and explore every possible option and turn over every rock that we can to make sure that we are utilizing the local staff here.”
Miller says in the meantime, they will continue to lobby the federal government for a more ‘Made in Alberta’ solution.