JASROOP GOSAL
SURREY – The Surrey Board of Trade is closely examining the recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program announced by Minister Randy Boissonnault. While the program’s adjustments aim to reduce reliance on temporary foreign workers, we believe that Surrey employers continue to struggle in finding employees with the necessary skillsets, particularly in critical sectors like healthcare, retail trade, and transportation.
“The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and work permit process provided Surrey businesses with a level of assurance that their workforce needs would be met for several years,” said Jasroop Gosal, Interim Spokesperson for the Surrey Board of Trade. “With the new restrictions, such as a one-year cap on LMIAs, employers face even more uncertainty in filling crucial vacancies. Small and medium sized businesses, specifically retail trade, make up a large portion of Surrey’s business community. These changes will cause significant impacts.”
Surrey has a large immigrant population, which makes the impact of these changes even more concerning. Recent immigrants in Surrey show the highest rate of labour force participation compared to all immigrants and the total population, according to the 2021 Census data. If changes to the TFW Program limit the ability of these workers to find or retain employment, Surrey could face heightened workforce challenges.
“Surrey’s economy depends on industries such as retail trade, healthcare, and transportation,” said Gosal. “These sectors have been critical employers for immigrants and recent immigrants, and any disruption to their participation in the labour force will be felt across the city.”
The Surrey Board of Trade calls on the Federal Government to ensure that there are robust reskilling and upskilling initiatives in place. We need to support local employers in finding the right talent while also preparing workers—especially new immigrants—to meet the demands of an evolving economy.
“As these changes roll out, it is essential that we carefully examine the full extent of their impact,” added Gosal. “Employers and workers alike need certainty, and we urge the government to provide more support to ensure that all residents, particularly immigrants who have the highest labour force participation rates, continue to thrive in our local economy.”
Jasroop Gosal is the Interim Spokesperson and Policy & Research Manager for the Surrey Board of Trade
