Canada: No Amnesty for Undocumented Workers - By Sharda Vaidyanath, Epoch Times, NY
It is estimated that approximately 200,000 failed refugee claimants or visitors with expired visas are working in Canada. Unions say these workers are helping fill a severe labour shortage in Canada's construction, agricultural and service sectors.
Liberal MP Mario Silva says the shortage of skilled trade workers such as bricklayers and carpenters has created a crisis in the housing industry in Calgary and Toronto. He says the system for handling foreign workers is extremely bureaucratic and the numbers that are accepted are inadequate compared to what the economy needs. At the same time, current immigration regulations allow excessive numbers of PhDs and engineers to enter the country legitimately.
'We are robbing professionals from third world countries that have spent millions training their people only to come to Canada to drive cabs.'