Chamber seeks ‘long-term, sustainable solutions’ for rural employers

On the other side of changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and B.C. Provincial Nominee Program program in April, the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce is advocating for clearer communication and stable foreign worker regulations.

On Monday, April 20 the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills announced the province would opt into a new federal policy allowing rural employers, like Revelstoke Mountain Resort, to keep currently employed, low-wage temporary foreign workers on staff for an additional year with a 10 per cent cap, instead of the optional 15 per cent increase announced by the federal government. 

Instead of increasing the cap for foreign workers, the province will shift its focus to building skills training and job opportunities for youth in an effort to fill the employment gaps that have led to calls for changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

“We want to see long-term, sustainable solutions that give employers the ability to plan for three, four or five years at a time instead of these knee jerk reactions,” said Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce CEO Caroline Lachapelle following the announcements.

The changes are a short-term response to “immediate labour pressures,” according to Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. 

“B.C. is calling on the federal immigration minister to focus on long-term workforce solutions, not stopgaps, that reflect provincial needs and help communities, especially in rural and remote areas, recruit and retain skilled workers for the long term,” Sunner wrote. 

While Lachapelle said she feels more work needs to be done, the changes suggest the provincial government is listening to local chambers, which have been advocating for reforms to the program. 

On Thursday, April 23 the province announced changes to the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program to further attract skilled workers in healthcare, education, childcare and veterinary care to B.C. However, the Entry Level and Semi Skilled stream for permanent residency was closed indefinitely. 

“The last invitations for this stream were issued on Dec.10, 2024,” according to a press release. “Individuals who were planning to apply under [this] stream may wish to explore alternative pathways to immigrate to B.C.”

Lachapelle agreed that a focus on healthcare and education skilled workers will be a benefit for Revelstoke, but will monitor how limiting entry level and semi skilled workers, which comprise much of the hospitality workforce, will impact the city.

“The streams [for hospitality and food and beverage] are quite limited, and so we’ll continue to advocate on behalf of resort communities to see what we can do,” she said.

The Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce will also focus on how to support local students and youth entering the workforce with plans to continue working with Revelstoke Secondary School and School District 19, and advocate for early work skills development opportunities and trades training.