Island Lake chiefs call on governments to invest in wildfire prevention
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
15 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Ottawa yet to launch program announced last year that would grant permanent residency to low-wage workers
More than a year after announcing a new immigration stream that would have granted permanent residency to low-wage workers already in Canada, the federal government has yet to move ahead on formally launching the program – suggesting that Ottawa could be backing away from the plan altogether. The plan targeting low-wage workers was informally announced in April 2024, through the Canada Gazette. Consultations were set to begin last year on amending immigration laws to admit a 'new permanent economic class of workers in TEER 4 and TEER 5 jobs.' But the program was not included in July's version of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's forward regulatory plan, which details coming changes to federal immigration rules and programs over the next three years. Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities, or TEER, is a job categorization system used by the government for immigration purposes. TEER 4 and TEER 5 workers usually have either a high-school diploma or no formal education at all, and examples of their occupations include delivery service drivers, caregivers, food production and retail workers. IRCC spokesperson Sofica Lukianenko said in a late July e-mail to The Globe and Mail that the department will 'continue to examine the role of immigration in meeting labour market needs at TEER 4 and 5 occupations.' She did not specify whether the program was still being considered by Ottawa, or whether it had been shelved indefinitely. Cancelling the program – which IRCC had billed as a pathway that would replace stand-alone pilot programs and provide a single mechanism to select economic immigrants in 'essential-skilled occupations' – would close off a clear path of access to permanent residency, or PR, for workers in low-wage jobs. Ms. Lukianenko said foreign workers in TEER 4 and 5 jobs already have a number of options for permanent immigration pathways, such as the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (which pledge to grant PR to approximately 5,000 caregivers annually) and a new agricultural workers pilot program that the government intends to launch this year. The most popular way of obtaining PR in Canada as an economic migrant is through the Express Entry system, a program that uses a scorecard to rank prospective immigrants based on skills and education level. Foreign workers in low-wage occupations often fail to meet criteria that would give them enough points to eventually garner PR. Many try their luck through the pilot programs or various provincial immigration programs such as the Atlantic Immigration Program and the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. But these programs have changed over the years, prioritizing skilled workers in the trades, graduates of Canadian institutions and French-speaking immigrants, leaving low-wage foreign workers with few options for direct paths to PR. Migrant rights advocates have long campaigned for this class of workers (many of them who enter the country through Ottawa's Temporary Foreign Workers program) to be given a clearer path to working and living permanently in Canada. They argue that the splintered nature of Canada's immigration system – with frequent changes in policy priorities, and the creation and termination of various streams – indirectly contributes to the growth of the undocumented population, as workers move in and out of jobs in an attempt to qualify for one of numerous programs, often overstaying their visas. Marina Sedai, a Vancouver-based immigration lawyer and former chair of the Canadian Bar Association's immigration section, said she was not surprised the TEER 4 and 5 program was not on the list of regulatory initiatives recently announced by IRCC. 'The Liberal Party adopted several conservative measures before the election to regain ground in the polls at the time, asserting that students and workers had to be cut to protect the housing and job markets,' she said. Public sentiment toward immigrants has become less friendly over the past two years, fuelled by concerns over housing prices and the overall cost of living. The government is trying to dramatically reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada, which had burgeoned in number over the past five years owing to immigration-friendly policy changes during the pandemic. Temporary residents currently make up about 7.1 per cent of the total population. The government is aiming for a target of 5 per cent by the end of 2026. Scrapping an immigration program that would grant PR to low-wage workers would be a wise move if the government's larger goal is to increase gross domestic product per capita through prioritizing higher-skilled immigrants, argues Mikal Skuterud, a professor of labour economics at the University of Waterloo. Prof. Skuterud was highly critical of the TEER 4 and TEER 5 pathway plan when it was announced last year, telling The Globe at the time that it would suppress wages and undermine public support for immigration. He said Ottawa intended to launch the program to hedge against the growing problem of visa overstayers, as offering foreign workers currently in Canada a direct path to PR en masse would reduce both temporary resident and undocumented populations. Ravi Jain, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer, said Canada's temporary resident population has increased so drastically over the past decade that it is unsurprising how federal immigration goals might have shifted. 'It is very much my sense that they do not want to create a 'low-skilled' pathway right now,' he said.
CBC
16 minutes ago
- CBC
Despite Trump's tariff increase, former N.L. premier satisfied with PM's trade strategy
As the United States increases tariffs on Canadian imports to 35 per cent, former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Andrew Furey says Prime Minister Mark Carney's slow and steady approach has been the best thing for the country. "It's been a very wise and strategic, a cohesive approach on behalf of all Canadians," Furey told CBC News on Thursday. Furey called Carney's approach calm and rational, adding that he thinks it is the "most sensible path forward." "We need to make sure that this is the best deal on behalf of all the industries, on behalf of all the workers, on behalf of all Canadians and all regions within Canada," Furey said. In February, Furey called Trump's tariff threat a " historic existential threat." He said he still believes it. By touting issues like fentanyl and border security as his rationale for the tariffs, Furey said Trump has created an environment of chaos. And by having his sights set on Canada, Furey believes Trump has an imperialistic agenda. "[Trump is] focused on creating economic turmoil so he can potentially extract, not only the value, but potentially even the land mass itself," he said. WATCH | Former N.L. premier reacts to Carney trade approach: Carney's approach to U.S. trade negotiations 'wise and strategic,' says former N.L. premier 4 days ago Andrew Furey, former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, says the most 'sound' way to negotiate with the United States is in 'a calm, rational, Canadian manner.' This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump began levying higher import taxes on dozens of countries Thursday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford told CNN on Thursday that Trump is the most disliked politician in Canada, and described his tariffs as an attack on "his closest family member." Furey said Ford is right, adding that Canadians do see tariffs as an attack. "It's an attack on our industries, it's an attack on our resources, it's an attack on our historic and lengthy friendship," said Furey. Relationship with Mexico important For now, the White House says that the tariffs on Canada will not be applied to goods that are compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA. And, most Canadian goods likely qualify, but Ford is also warning that Trump could try to reopen it. Earlier this week, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand travelled to Mexico looking to boost economic ties. Furey thinks Canada's relationship with Mexico is very important if Trump seeks to renegotiate CUSMA. "It's important that there's alignment and strategic thought processes existing between the partners like Canada and Mexico," he said. "We're next to the United States, but we don't want to be relying on the United States." Business bypassing U.S. In St. John's, Colonial Auto Parts president Doug Squires stopped working with U.S. suppliers last spring. And now, he said, everything is going according to plan. Squires said he has been in discussion with offshore suppliers and all of his products, except car paint and exhaust, can be sourced outside the U.S. He said because the U.S. auto industry is so large, most suppliers ship into the U.S. before shipping to Canada. This makes prices higher due to tariffs. So far, he has been able to avoid price increases. "By bypassing the United States, we eliminate the inclusion of that cost into our acquisition price and which will allow us to maintain pricing," Squires said. However, not all companies can do this, he said, because many offshore companies require high volume orders. "You need to bring it in in container loads in order to get the economies of scale from our pricing perspective," he said. Squires said the most challenging part is the uncertainty. "That uncertainty tends to make people be a little reluctant to make purchases or maintain their vehicles as they should."
CTV News
40 minutes ago
- CTV News
Sask. court hears arguments from province, UR Pride in pronoun law appeal
WATCH: Donovan Maess has the details on the first day of proceedings of the pronoun policy appeal launched by the Sask. Gov't. The Saskatchewan Government is in the province's highest court fighting to prevent a Court of King's Bench judge from determining if its Parents' Bill of Rights actually violates the Charter. In August 2023, the government announced a policy requiring students under 16 years of age to have parental permission before they change their pronouns or names in school. LGBTQ2S+ advocates then requested and were granted a court injunction which halted the use of the policy. In response, the Sask Party government enacted the use of the notwithstanding clause into Bill 137, better known as the Parents' Bill of Rights in attempt to stop the court challenge. Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device In February, Justice Michael Megaw ruled UR Pride should still get the chance to have the court review the law's impacts under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Megaw's decision would allow UR Pride and the government to present all their evidence and arguments in court, although the invocation of Section 33 of the Charter, also known as the notwithstanding clause, means a judge could not strike it down. The government is making the case that its use of Section 33 means that since the court has no power to strike the law down, it should not be allowed to review whether the law violates the Charter. Three Arguments The government's appeal relied on three main arguments: There was an error of law for allowing the challenge to proceed, the issue is moot because of the use of the notwithstanding clause and UR Pride is abusing the judicial process. Government counsel believed Justice Megaw made an error of law in allowing UR Pride to amend its application to include a constitutional challenge. 'Jurisdiction of the court is removed when the notwithstanding clause in invoked,' lawyer Milad Alishahi argued in court Monday. 'The ability of the court completely to deal with the question [whether a law violates a charter provision] doesn't exist.' The province also believes the challenge is moot because of the use of the clause. 'The learning judge made an error of law in failing to find the declaration sought to find Sections 7 and 15 [of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms] raised in the issue,' said government lawyer Bennet Misskey. 'To determine whether a matter is moot, it is necessary to assess what practical remedies are available to both parties.' Court of Appeal Justice Georgina Jackson challenged Misskey's comment. 'Would it have been better for the learn judge not to have passed on the issue of jurisdiction and focused on the issue of mootness?' she asked. 'Certainly,' Misskey replied. 'Had the court found they had jurisdiction to issue some sort of declaration it was incumbent to then address the question of mootness.' 'By deferring the issue, it almost renders the question of mootness itself in a certain way,' he added. Finally, lawyers say UR Pride is abusing the court process in trying to hold the government to account. 'It's such a different case,' Deron Kuski said. 'They are saying they want a decision that will hold the government to account.' Kuski added he believes it is not up to the court to allow the process. 'The court should not concern itself with the issue of accountability,' he said. 'Public accountability comes at the ballot box, not from the judiciary.' UR Pride on defense For over a year, UR Pride and multiple other advocate groups have been on the offensive in trying to halt the pronoun policies included in the Parents' Bill of Rights. But now, they are defending the decision to allow their connotational challenge. 'The issue of this case from day zero has been whether this law is constitutional,' said Adam Goldenberg, co-counsel for UR Pride. 'I have real concerns with the suggestion its abusive and improper for a party challenging the constitutionality of a law to seek the determination whether the law is.' 'The government has taken the position the effect of section 33 is unaffected by the rights of the groups in question,' Chief Justice Robert Leurer said. 'Are being asked to decide an issue on a factual pattern?' 'No one is questioning the legislative policy in this case,' Goldenberg said. 'You can't look at which rights are being overridden and whether it was a wise or unwise legislative choice.' 'As long as the full requirements are met, the law operates,' he added. 'None of that is being disputed in this case.' Goldenberg went on to submit there is a real need to inform the Saskatchewan electorate and elected officials of the provisions which the government has sought to infringe with the use of the notwithstanding clause. 'The purpose of every charter claim is ultimately to educate the legislatures who have the power to change the law of their constitutional obligations,' he said. 'None of that is improper. None of that is abusive.' Setting the precedent The looming appeal decision stands to set the precedent for similar cases across the country. 'The court has an important role when the government chooses to violate the charter rights of young people or any part of the population,' said UR Pride co-counsel and Director of Legal for Egale Canada Bennett Jensen. Both the provinces of New Brunswick and Alberta have enacted similar pronoun policy laws and were granted intervener status in this case. Representatives from both provinces made submissions Monday in support of the Sask Party government's position. Legal battles in each province are also expected in the near future. Sask. Minister of Justice and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre asserted the government's support for parental rights. 'It is important to include parents in these crucial decisions,' she told reporters at a media conference in Saskatoon Monday. 'We've always been clear we'll use every tool at our disposal to do that.' 'The notwithstanding clause is an integral part of the Charter of Rights [and Freedoms] and was long fought for … as a means for a balance between the legislative and judicial [branches],' Eyre added. Jensen responded by saying it is disappointing to see the Saskatchewan government continue to defend policies he says target the province's most vulnerable. 'When political leaders are telling young people it's not okay to be themselves, that it's not okay to be different at school, that has a devastating effect on young people,' he said. 'The fact the policy has continued to be in effect this whole time continues to cause real harm across the population.' More arguments in support of UR Pride's challenge will continue Tuesday. -With files from Rory MacLean
