The issue of temporary workers
With discussions afoot on immigration, on the federal government cutting back on student visas, Isabelle Hachey shines a light on Quebec’s dependence on cheap foreign labour, spinning her column off a Journal article this week about the growing numbers who prop up Quebec’s economy, “these thousands of workers who pick our vegetables, pluck our chickens, sort our waste, deliver our goods, wash our parents…” as Hachey puts it. That these people are often on closed visas, making them perilously close to indentured labour, is not tenable, and allows Quebec to go on preening itself on “francisation” of immigrants while living off the avails of people whose language does not concern it.
DeWolf 20:13 on 2024-01-23 Permalink
This is the CAQ’s deal with the devil. It allows them to give their xenophobic base the appearance they are tough on immigration while exploiting an ever-increasing number of migrants who are essentially indentured servants. It’s very difficult for TFWs to become permanent residents and their situation leaves them vulnerable to abuse.
It’s the Singaporization of Quebec: a seemingly rich and prosperous society based on the exploitation of permanent foreigners.