A new report has added to the concern that Alberta will be one of the hardest hit provinces by changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
The Canada West Foundation study argues that provinces with higher unemployment rates will only be slightly affected, as they have more potential workers to fill jobs.
Beginning in July, employers can’t have any more than 20 per cent of their workforce be TFWs, which lowers to 10 per cent in July 2016.
Alberta heavily relies on the program, with temporary foreign workers making up 1.74 per cent of its workforce at the end of 2013.
It’s estimated the province will have to give up 8,400 workers, six times as many as Ontario, and more than half of the country’s losses in total.
That’s despite the eastern province having a labour force three times the size, and a significantly higher unemployment rate.
