Former British Columbia Cabinet Minister Katrina Chen expressed strong opposition to Premier David Eby’s recent calls to cancel or reform the temporary foreign worker program. Chen voiced her frustration on social media, criticizing the government for unfairly targeting immigrants with flawed policies due to underfunding services, which she believes breeds bias and discrimination.
In a passionate online statement, Chen labeled Eby’s comments as “dangerous and unacceptable,” highlighting the need for reform rather than using immigrants as scapegoats. She emphasized that the notion of immigrants overwhelming shelters and food banks is false.
Eby’s stance on the temporary foreign worker program, advocating for its cancellation or significant reform, has stirred controversy. His concerns about the immigration system straining social services and infrastructure have sparked debate and criticism from various organizations and individuals, including the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and UBC migration scholar Irene Bloemraad.
Chen, who previously served as the minister of state for children and co-chaired Eby’s NDP leadership campaign, highlighted the importance of acknowledging the contributions of migrants to British Columbia’s economy and labor market.
The discourse surrounding immigration policy and its impact continues to unfold, with differing perspectives on the role of temporary foreign workers in the province’s workforce.
Keyphrase: Temporary Foreign Worker Program