The B.C. Liberal government cannot leave protection of B.C. workers in the hands of the federal Conservative government, say the New Democrats.

“For years, the B.C. Liberals have failed to stand up for workers and the over 150,000 out-of-work British Columbians,” said New Democrat leader John Horgan. “B.C. uses temporary foreign workers more than any other province, and still the government refuses to take any responsibility, allowing workers to be exploited and British Columbians to be shut out of jobs.”

The provincial government is responsible for enforcing employment standards and workplace safety, but the Liberals have taken no action to curb a program that has been plagued by reports of workers being exploited and British Columbians being shouldered out of jobs. Other provinces, like Manitoba, have negotiated agreements with the federal government to ensure they have some power to prevent the program from being abused.

The changes announced today by the federal government don’t address the fundamental problem that employers are able to use access to temporary foreign workers to pay below market wages.

“The federal government’s changes have still left British Columbians without assurance they will be hired first at a fair wage,” said New Democrat labour critic Harry Bains.

Bains also noted that the B.C. Liberals have failed for years to support skills training programs that would ensure that young people are qualified for good jobs in the future.

“The B.C. Liberals need to stop standing by while employers use this program to exclude British Columbians from today’s job opportunities and young British Columbians from tomorrow’s opportunities,” he said. “Workers in this province deserve better from the B.C. Liberal government.”