The latest unemployment figures show the continued use of Temporary Foreign Workers is unnecessary said BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair.
According to Statistics Canada, BC lost 10,900 total jobs and 16,200 full-time jobs last month.
"These numbers reveal we don't have a temporary shortage of workers, we have a shortage of jobs," Sinclair stated.
The Federation has long opposed the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, because the program drives down wages and severely limits the rights of workers entering Canada.
"We know that over the long run with expected retirements and slowing birthrates, our workforce requires continued reliance on immigration," said Sinclair. "But let's invest in real immigration programs that allow prospective citizens the same rights as all Canadian workers. It's how we built Canada and how we should continue to build Canada."
Over 70,000 temporary foreign workers are currently residing in BC.