Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
#1
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Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
just heard this on the cbc. A sushi restaurant can't import sushi chefs on TFWs and a bakery can't get locals, even though they *gasp* pay above minimum wage!
considering how expensive Whistler is, maybe they need to pay more?
considering how expensive Whistler is, maybe they need to pay more?
#2
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Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
You see the same thing in Calgary all the time. Companies don't pay enough money for people to live on and complain that they can't get locals to accept jobs especially as the working conditions are often very poor as well; irregular hours, no medical etc.
#3
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Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
exactly. i have *limited sympathy.
Last edited by ExKiwilass; Nov 24th 2014 at 6:21 pm. Reason: bit harsh
#4
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Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
I have no sympathy for a business who modelled their business on employing people on minimum or just above minimum wage and relied on foreign workers taking these positions be it the TFW or IEC working holiday visas.
Usually these business owners also own rental units which they then charge their workers to rent as they cannot afford to rent a place of their own in places such as Whistler and quite a few other places across Canada.
Usually you will end up in shared accommodation with several others. Those on the IEC are usually a lot younger and see it as an adventure and will return home. There again some will want to stay and then find it difficult in applying for PR status as these type of jobs are usually lower skilled and won't meet FSW or PNP requirements.
I certainly couldn't afford to live and work in Whistler or Fort Mac and a few other places.
Usually these business owners also own rental units which they then charge their workers to rent as they cannot afford to rent a place of their own in places such as Whistler and quite a few other places across Canada.
Usually you will end up in shared accommodation with several others. Those on the IEC are usually a lot younger and see it as an adventure and will return home. There again some will want to stay and then find it difficult in applying for PR status as these type of jobs are usually lower skilled and won't meet FSW or PNP requirements.
I certainly couldn't afford to live and work in Whistler or Fort Mac and a few other places.
#5
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Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
The thing is, that is the working business model for ALL ski resorts everywhere in the world...
Last edited by withabix; Nov 24th 2014 at 10:49 pm.
#6
Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
What's the solution? Here's the business dilemma many resorts face: Commercial rent is 50-75% more expensive than in a non-resort town (Kamloops/Kelowna vs Sun Peaks/Big White, for example). Food/services prices have to reflect that, so something has to give - lower profit margins, wages or quality of whatever your business delivers. Throw into the mix a trading period of at best 8 months per year for places other than Whistler which has a relatively large permanent population, and it's pretty difficult to make a business viable.
#7
Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
I have no sympathy for a business who modelled their business on employing people on minimum or just above minimum wage and relied on foreign workers taking these positions be it the TFW or IEC working holiday visas.
Usually these business owners also own rental units which they then charge their workers to rent as they cannot afford to rent a place of their own in places such as Whistler and quite a few other places across Canada.
Usually you will end up in shared accommodation with several others. Those on the IEC are usually a lot younger and see it as an adventure and will return home. There again some will want to stay and then find it difficult in applying for PR status as these type of jobs are usually lower skilled and won't meet FSW or PNP requirements.
I certainly couldn't afford to live and work in Whistler or Fort Mac and a few other places.
Usually these business owners also own rental units which they then charge their workers to rent as they cannot afford to rent a place of their own in places such as Whistler and quite a few other places across Canada.
Usually you will end up in shared accommodation with several others. Those on the IEC are usually a lot younger and see it as an adventure and will return home. There again some will want to stay and then find it difficult in applying for PR status as these type of jobs are usually lower skilled and won't meet FSW or PNP requirements.
I certainly couldn't afford to live and work in Whistler or Fort Mac and a few other places.
#8
Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
Well that's the point isn't it, they should go out of business. I see this in the US when they talk about raising the minimum wage and all the fast food restaurants start complaining. Well, if your employees get food stamps and go to the food bank and can't make ends meet on minimum wage - then you're in a marginal business and you should go under, or raise your prices.
It's not quite as obvious in Canada because the minimum wage is higher and there are no food stamps. At the end of the day though you're going to face this problem sooner or later because there isn't an inexhaustible supply of cheap foreign labour that you can substitute, plus people have to earn money in order to spend it.
The fact is that no economy is some perfect equation so people try and find ways of gaining a competitive advantage and I don't think importing cheap labour is an ethical way of doing it. "No-one wants these jobs" and no-one ever will, if you keep suppressing wages with imported labour and make it appear to be a crap job by using foreigners.
Personally I keep thinking that fast food jobs could probably be replaced with machines anyway.
Anyway I heard that radio bit and one of the points made was that the ski instructors they hire speak foreign languages, which seemed like a fair point to me, but that's not a low-skilled TFW then, is it?
It's not quite as obvious in Canada because the minimum wage is higher and there are no food stamps. At the end of the day though you're going to face this problem sooner or later because there isn't an inexhaustible supply of cheap foreign labour that you can substitute, plus people have to earn money in order to spend it.
The fact is that no economy is some perfect equation so people try and find ways of gaining a competitive advantage and I don't think importing cheap labour is an ethical way of doing it. "No-one wants these jobs" and no-one ever will, if you keep suppressing wages with imported labour and make it appear to be a crap job by using foreigners.
Personally I keep thinking that fast food jobs could probably be replaced with machines anyway.
Anyway I heard that radio bit and one of the points made was that the ski instructors they hire speak foreign languages, which seemed like a fair point to me, but that's not a low-skilled TFW then, is it?
#9
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Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
Sushi Chefs are not low skilled either. The apprenticeship to become a proper one lasts ten years.
#10
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Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
exactly, so why not sponsor them for PR?
#11
Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
The fact is that no economy is some perfect equation so people try and find ways of gaining a competitive advantage and I don't think importing cheap labour is an ethical way of doing it. "No-one wants these jobs" and no-one ever will, if you keep suppressing wages with imported labour and make it appear to be a crap job by using foreigners.
Some speak a second language, many don't. It's not a pre-requisite. The pay rates for instructors are appalling though, and often entail days without income if there isn't enough demand for them to be needed to teach.
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Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
#13
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Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
Its all utter nonsense anyway, its Winter and there's ample people to do the jobs here. The housing situation is appalling though, $1000 for a room in a shared house, 1 beds for over $2000, people are even renting out there campers, maybe that's why they can't supposedly get staff
#14
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Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
I have no sympathy for Whistler employers and their complaining. I'd work in Whistler and commute (could never live there, housing costs are well above what anyone could afford on typical wages offered.) but it's not a long commute, although on really snowy day's it might not be possible to do, so could be why the employers ignore those who would need to commute in from Squamish.
I get no calls from anywhere in Whistler, so the labor shortage must not be that bad.
I get no calls from anywhere in Whistler, so the labor shortage must not be that bad.
#15
Re: Whistler businesses whine about TFW programme changes
Its all utter nonsense anyway, its Winter and there's ample people to do the jobs here. The housing situation is appalling though, $1000 for a room in a shared house, 1 beds for over $2000, people are even renting out there campers, maybe that's why they can't supposedly get staff
Ski resorts in Canada need to get staff housing so that rental prices can actually be at an affordable level.