Let’s Celebrate National Tree Day!
Team Alberta wins gold at Skills Canada
Pink Days in Bloom embraced by industry
Green Industry News Summer 2013 Vol. 22 Issue 3
What’s inside: • Changes announced to TFWP • LNL receives prestigious environment award • Labour saving technology for industry • The recipe for success • Recycling recap • Campfire rose is a hot topic
Make your business work by working on your business Certification Corner, page 10
Delayed worker visas puts strain on industry Due to the striking foreign service workers, the processing of work visas for many people looking to enter Canada has been halted. This has directly impacted several employers in the industry by making it impossible for them to complete the steps required to access the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Barry Paxton, President of Alpha Better Landscaping Inc. in Calgary, Alberta described his company’s situation, “We are still waiting for 17 work visas that should have been approved by the Canadian Consulate in Mexico weeks ago. We are 17 people short on our crews and are unable to fill these positions with Canadian workers.”
Alpha Better Landscaping’s experience is not unique; horticulture companies across Canada are encountering significant economic hardship due to the strike. Given the seasonal nature of this industry, the need for workers is an immediate concern. The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) has sent letters to the Government of Canada and the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) urging them to make arrangements that allow the processing of work visas to return to normal. CNLA understands the issues are complex and respects the right to collective action. However, the association is committed to ensuring access to the human resources needed by this industry. If you have any comments or questions regarding this issue, please contact CNLA staff, Joel Beatson joel@cnlaacpp.ca or 1-888-446-3499 ext 8610.