Whitehorse Daily Star

Image title

Photo by Vince Fedoroff

AGREEING TO NEGOTIATE – Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai (seated, left) and Silvestre Bello, the Philippines’ Secretary of Labour aand Employment, are seen Wednesday in Whitehorse after signing the negotiations agreement with Bello’s Philippines contingent on the right.

Governments aim to simplify immigration process

Government officials from the Yukon and the Philippines gathered Wednesday in Whitehorse to sign a letter of intent toward expediting the immigration process for Filipino workers entering the territory’s labour market.

By Gabrielle Plonka on August 29, 2019

Government officials from the Yukon and the Philippines gathered Wednesday in Whitehorse to sign a letter of intent toward expediting the immigration process for Filipino workers entering the territory’s labour market.

“Local businesses across the territory have expressed concerns in finding staff to fill vacant positions, especially seasonal ones,” Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai told a news conference.

“This is an important step towards addressing some of those concerns and ensuring continued economic growth in the Yukon.”

The letter of intent was signed by Pillai and Sylvestre Bello, the Philippines’ Secretary of Labour and Employment, at the Yukon Transportation Museum. Bello travelled to Whitehorse for the occasion.

The two countries now promise to work together to enhance the Yukon Nominee Program for Filipino workers.

This initiative will include “enhancing the system for the recruitment, protection, and placement of Filipino workers to be employed in the Yukon; and a public information campaign for the Yukon Nominee Program,” according to a statement released by the Yukon government.

The letter of intent is the first step in working towards a memorandum of understanding.

According to Pillai, approximately 40 per cent of migrant workers registered with the Yukon Nominee Program originated from the Philippines.

This translates to more than 3,000 workers since the program was introduced.

“We were named the most entrepreneurial city in Canada … and of course our Filipino entrepreneurs have contributed greatly to that,” Pillai said.

“The Filipino people are contributing to our territory’s rich culture of diversity and are key participants in territorial sports organizations.”

Pillai said the Yukon Government will aim to increase flexibility in immigration programming and “maximize the opportunity” of increasing Filipino immigration.

“It’s about taking something that’s working well and making it better,” he said.

Almost 50 people, many from the Filipino business community, gathered for the announcement, and Bello addressed them directly.

“I’m so glad to see all of you, you look very prosperous,” Bello said. “You must be enjoying your stay here in the Yukon.”

Bello said he looks forward to developing immigration procedures.

“(The agreement) will pave the way for a stronger partnership between the Yukon and the Philippines, which will foster the protection of rights and promotion of Filipino workers or persons,” he said.

Mike Pemberton, the chair of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, told the Star Thursday he believes the agreement is a step in the right direction for addressing labour shortages.

“Anything we can do to untangle the bureaucracy is a move in the right direction,” Pemberton said.

He explained that the two governments moving toward a memorandum of understanding will help to expedite processing times for immigrants.

This could make the process easier for employers looking to nominate migrant workers.

“I thank our lucky stars that we do have programs like this (the Yukon Nominee Program) because my life would be crazy without them,” Pemberton said.

The businesses he operates are completely staffed by migrant workers, he noted.

However, it’s still too early in the process to gauge how much the partnership will affect employers.

“We need to find out exactly what this is going to mean to our membership and our employers,” he said. “I’m speculating … that it shows there is movement going forward.”

Pemberton said he thinks helping the Filipino community to flourish will help abate issues for labour and for housing, because the community will work together to support new immigrants.

“If somebody is coming from (the Philippines), they probably have a place to stay, because they have a friend or a family member in the Yukon,” he said.

“That helps out a lot with the housing situation, because it gives that person a step to move forward until they can look after their own housing.

“They work together.”

Pemberton added that at Ashley Home Store, a business he operates, many of the foreign workers live together.

“They understand they have to work together to get to where they want to be, and I think that’s true of our entire business community. We all have to work together to achieve the results we’re looking for,” he said.

Comments (29)

Up 0 Down 1

Dave - another thing that tiresome and overused on Sep 5, 2019 at 6:23 am

..is that when people - such as me - point out racist comments, and immediately get accused of being socialist/PC/liberal/progressive, etc., etc., as if those adjectives are slurs. Of course people are free to say (pretty much) anything they like, and I would never want to obstruct that. But when someone (see jc's post) moans about immigration somehow taking away 'white' rights ... well, what exactly would you call a comment like that?

Up 0 Down 0

Allan on Sep 5, 2019 at 1:41 am

Dave - Get your USA political facts straight before blaming certain parties. Your quote "This Liberal trash sounds like something Trump would have come up with." If you had been following the situation down south instead of spouting the monotonous narrative of the Left you would have known that Trump is the one trying to rein in the unregulated & illegal immigration (outside existing US Immigration laws) that the Democrats are promoting. This is the same Democratic Party (incl. Obama) that was espousing the same as Trump anti-immigrant rhetoric during both Obama's terms in office. Trump is not anti-immigrant but only trying to enforce Immigration laws. The Demoncrats are against everything good Trump is doing.

Shocker: When Democrats Were Against Illegal Immigration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gISMNv3qm8M

Up 1 Down 4

marylaker on Sep 4, 2019 at 7:21 pm

Why not make it easier for Europeans and others who would like to move here as well?! This is unbelievable! Making it easier for Filipinos, but nobody else?! There are way too many things wrong with this announcement, in my opinion, for me to address them all right now, but I'll be back when I have more time. I just find it shocking.

Up 14 Down 1

Dave on Sep 4, 2019 at 4:02 pm

@not to sound racist. I think people are learning not to let critical conversation and debate on a subject be stifled just because someone such as yourself throws out the extremely tired and overused racism card. That seems to be the leftist go to word to try and shut down open and honest discussion these days. So please everyone continue with critical thought and discussion of this and all other subjects and don’t allow yourselves to be silenced by the PC crowd. Our ancestors fought two world wars so that we Canadians could remain free to talk without fear of reprisal and not have to self censor ourselves to please the socialists.

Up 0 Down 15

Patti Eyre on Sep 4, 2019 at 3:55 pm

Oh my lord heaven and earth, I read some of these comments and I'm shocked at the depravity, the xenophobia, the downright wrongness of it all! The bible teaches us that the lord's house has many rooms and it does not matter if you are a good immigrant or a bad immigrant, whether you have good qualities or bad qualities.

Up 3 Down 0

Star-follow-up on Sep 4, 2019 at 12:05 pm

To : ‘I am an immigrant ... WOW, just wow.... “ . Specifically which YNP case are you referring to ? ( if you can remember .... )

Up 11 Down 9

"not to sound racist but..." on Sep 3, 2019 at 6:43 pm

When a person begins a sentence with those words, or the classic "I'm not a racist but" it's almost a guarantee that the rest of the sentence will be, indeed, racist. Some of these comments sound like the rhetoric against the Irish in the 1800s... papist conspiracy! overthrow the government! taking jobs away! (and worse comments). These folks tend to be hard-working, family-oriented, value education for their kids ... Why wouldn't we want them to be part of our community??? As for local people, I'm pretty sure anyone who seriously wants to work has an opportunity for a job.

Up 29 Down 1

realist on Sep 2, 2019 at 8:27 pm

Good on the Filipino community to come to a little town in the north of Canada and flourish. I came to the Yukon after living in BC for 20 years, originally an immigrant from eastern Europe. In the recent years I've noticed that yes, there are a lot of Filipinos in service sector jobs, but you know what, I got to know quite a few, they are a great hardworking people and exactly what you want in an immigrant. I would take 1000 Filipinos over 100 people from friendly places such as Somalia or Syria. See who integrates better, no brainer.

Up 8 Down 0

Josey Wales on Sep 2, 2019 at 6:22 pm

Gee Irwin...for a participant whose correct, factually... seems a lot “feel” you are wrong.
Maybe the lol at the end put folks off, dunno?
English ruling classes did precisely that, even this hillbilly knows that.

Up 20 Down 7

Jayne W on Sep 1, 2019 at 5:08 pm

Any job ad with a NOC number a Canadian can apply, but there are certain requirements.... show up... be on time... do your job... give a crap, make a commitment and guess what, you will be able to keep your job and likely get a raise or two. The job ad also state what the pay is.... above minimum wage and usually includes some sort of medical benefits in some companies, so I am not sure where everyone assumes it is cheapest form of labour. We need the nominee program or some sort of program because employers cannot fill the positions with committed employees. This program also helps the College Budget, many come and go to school for two years, first paying higher tuition costs, THEN they decide to try and enroll on the Nominee Program, at an employer they already worked part time in those two years. Political party has nothing to do with my opinion, it has to do with having enough labour in the stores, restaurants, etc., that we all so enjoy going to.

Up 20 Down 1

Juniper Jackson on Sep 1, 2019 at 1:56 pm

The process couldn't be any easier to bring in TFWs and Nominees outside of carrying them in piggy back. That being said.. I wouldn't under estimate the Filipino's and assume a vote. They came from a corrupt government, they know what justice looks like when its bad..They know criminal governments..Don't count on their vote..they don't like the high taxes either. Many of them don't even like Canada, they miss their sunshine and beaches, friends and family, but, it's an opportunity to send money home to help out the ones who can not leave and a better, if colder, life for themselves. That being said, they make the very best of it.
People talk about Filipinos being the ones to hire.. hmmm just going to say, in every group you got your good guys and your bad guys.. no ethnic group is exempt. When you go into Canadian Tire or Walmarts.. how many happy, smiley, faces do you see? Right.. they have hopes and dreams just like everyone else, and it doesn't include cleaning toilets for the rest of their lives, or working in Walmarts. And they sure as hell don't want to be pouring coffee and flipping donuts in 20 years.
There are many things things I like about the Filipino's.. Trudeau has turned us into a Godless bunch, or tried to, but the Filipinos, and others too.. stand firm in whatever faith they have..their kids are respectful and they have lots of pride. What does this mean for Canadian jobs? Well.. remember when the Royal Bank canned 45 employee's before they had to pay pensions or benefits? and hired 45 TFWs at minimum wage? The Union took them to court and they lost..maybe with the new legislation the Royal Bank would win.

Up 9 Down 25

Irwin M. Fletcher on Aug 31, 2019 at 7:54 pm

@ Liberal Sellouts - That is how the White-Settler nation of Canada was created in the first place... Pandering to the immigrant vote. Here is some farmland, do not mind the original land-users, and vote for me at the next election...

It is “the” original political campaign strategy. Lol!

Up 25 Down 2

i am an immigrant on Aug 31, 2019 at 11:38 am

Wow, just Wow: “Anything we can do to untangle the bureaucracy is a move in the right direction,” Pemberton said. "This could make the process easier for employers looking to nominate migrant workers."

Have a look at the requirement for the Yukon Nominee Program and tell me how much easier it has to be. Basically, put an ad up with a NOC number and that is it. I have to say though that I am surprised that they now have to pay a fee, that is new. BUT they pay it to the Feds, YG is still not charging fees. That should be changed.
http://www.gov.yk.ca/forms/forms/0000/YNP_AppHandbook_e.pdf

And then consider the Gov. employees in the YNP office and their biggest customers. They are the same since years. I could go on with details, even some insight, but the star probably would not print it.

The YNP is so easy and fast already, I really don't know why Pemperton or any other employer needs it even faster. Nothing against Filipinos though, they just take advantage of what is handed to them and at least they work and even try to integrate.

BTW Whitehorse Star, did you ever follow up on what happened with the investigation into the YNP office and one of their customers a few month ago?

Up 32 Down 6

macarthur on Aug 31, 2019 at 10:34 am

The good news, Philippines were on our side in World War II, they speak good English, they are friendly, they are good looking. They are not racist. Their religion is the same as the state religion. They are peaceful. Now in order to get published I will not mention the nationalities of immigrants to which non of the above apply.

Up 12 Down 5

French Fry The Tater on Aug 31, 2019 at 10:19 am

@Tater, good to see you’re so quick to write our own young people off without a second thought. Talk about generalizing people!

Up 24 Down 4

Josey Wales on Aug 31, 2019 at 9:23 am

Ummmm...Liberal sellouts?
Ya got the date wrong, team Red has been whoring for that demographic of 3rd world a long looooooong time. The soyboy in chief, his alleged daddy P.E.T. torched the hinges on our gates the first chance available.

Up 29 Down 7

Tater on Aug 30, 2019 at 4:08 pm

Max Mack, you nailed it!!
"young people do not feel the need to respect their job responsibilities or their employer; many employers would rather hire a Filipino, who will work diligently, show up for work, not complain, and who do not have a sense of entitlement."

Up 13 Down 21

Woodcutter on Aug 30, 2019 at 3:39 pm

@ the dummies that see a " voting block" you're delirious to think that these folks will all vote the same. They are like everyone else, in that there is a variety of political view points.
To the liberal bashing folks, the process of recruiting foreign works started in Denis' s time when all the locals quit to go work at the mines.

Up 32 Down 3

Seriously?? on Aug 30, 2019 at 2:48 pm

Wait, is the the same Philippine government signing this document whose screw ball leader recently said he wanted to declare war on Canada over some garbage? According to Duterte Canada is a terrible place, he conveniently didn’t mention the fact we take in tens of thousands of destitute Phillippinos so they can get out of poverty and are able to send cold hard cash back home.

Up 29 Down 7

Dave on Aug 30, 2019 at 2:36 pm

Is this the Canadian future? Living 14 people to a house so your local employer can have cheap labour while pocketing huge profits? This Liberal trash sounds like something Trump would have come up with. After all we should all strive to live like Asians who can’t wait to get out of their countries and come over here.

Up 44 Down 11

Liberal Sellouts on Aug 30, 2019 at 2:30 pm

Canada’s Liberals, selling our country and our children out for the immigrant vote since 2015.

Up 9 Down 37

Politico on Aug 30, 2019 at 2:07 pm

Amazing the closet racism here. People are not placing the blame where it lies, on the voters. They are so desperate for their cheap coffee, food and goods any attempt to raise the standard of living of the employed is met with cries of "but prices will go up". In the end it's not the Liberals that are bringing in TFWs it's the greedy Conservative Capitalists. It's incredible that the left is being blamed by the "fake news" Conservatives for something the Right is doing.

Up 33 Down 6

SheepChaser on Aug 30, 2019 at 5:50 am

Though not anti-immigration, I will point out that this is a quick and cheap fix allowing the gov to bypass local investment in access to education or increasing minimum wage. Doesn't seem like sound governance.

Additionally, this can only serve to make the lives of the upcoming generation of Yukoners more difficult. Say what you will about millenial attitudes, but facing more competition from workers who may be less inclined or able to assert their rights, a lack of affordable housing, unlikely to have access to a stable pension (after the boomers have drained it), a rise in global wage inequality, minimum wage increases that do not accurately reflect cost of living while being endlessly slapped in the face with the social media of the rich and famous; one can understand the lack of interest in the Yukon job market.

Up 43 Down 13

Jack on Aug 30, 2019 at 2:30 am

Is it true that almost 10% of population are now from Philippines?
If this program were around when I was in high school, my part time job at a restaurant would have gone to a foreigner not a young Yukoner.

Up 38 Down 6

Josey Wales on Aug 29, 2019 at 11:36 pm

Hmmm...and this is best for Canada, why?
We have laundered 3000 passports already? Our wee place?
Imagine if team Red went as far outta their way to help our actual citizens ...imagine the potential?
Yes I know team blue did it too, why I walked.
Our community is clearly morphing into a mosaic of cultural enclaves and I am tired of folks saying Canadians are lazy.
How are kids supposed to learn how to work in these many entry levels jobs, if we outsource their future?
I see the whole program as a 21st century slave trade that subsidizes box stores and fast food.
Great for soon to be Canadians from the 3rd world not good at all for Canada.
Great for Liberal votes...which is why.
...and blue votes a few years back...see above^
Any word on expediting financial, mental health support for EACH and EVERY veteran of THEE Canadian Forces that needs help?
I guess those votes are not coming your way so who care eh?
Amazing how quickly we here have been engineered so, so much to be able to pander such a flourishing, explosive ethic demographic.

Up 37 Down 13

jc on Aug 29, 2019 at 8:44 pm

Max Mack, You're right. The Filipino community is already on its way to becoming the largest voting block in the Yukon. That's the way Larry and his Liberal government planned it. Not to sound racist, but what has happened to the "white community"? Larry knows that with all the diverse races up here now, he is a shoe in again in October. In the last 20 years, I saw losing my race, my heritage, my culture and traditions. Why should I be a racist because of this loss? I mean, the Yukon is only about 35,000 people. Do we need so much diversity? Oh yeah, I forgot, it's all a Liberal thing.

Up 38 Down 4

Richard Bishop on Aug 29, 2019 at 6:14 pm

What kind of incentives, subsidies, tax breaks, etc., do governments offer employers for hiring foreign workers?
Do they offer the same for hiring domestic or local workers?
Is the playing field level?

Up 49 Down 9

CurteneausConscience on Aug 29, 2019 at 3:47 pm

All well and good for the incoming Nominees from The Philippines . Now, what level of equivalence do we have for incoming nominees from other Asian nations ? The problem is not the nominees , but the employers, many of whom do not see beyond the offer of cheap near-slave labour for the duration of the tripartite agreement. Exploitation still abounds in the Nominee Program, and will endure until there is an overhaul of the bureaucrats and time-servers at Education.

Up 69 Down 7

Max Mack on Aug 29, 2019 at 2:07 pm

Regrettably, Pillai has done next to nothing to solve the so-called labour shortage in-house.

There are many young people who could work, but society provides no incentives for them to do so. And, increasingly, employers are saddled with onerous "safety" requirements - especially when hiring young workers. In addition, young people do not feel the need to respect their job responsibilities or their employer; many employers would rather hire a Filipino, who will work diligently, show up for work, not complain, and who do not have a sense of entitlement.

Silver's government has also made no effort to address the massive distortion of the labour market created by government employment in the Yukon, which accounts for almost 7,000 employees (2018). The lure of government employment may be the single largest reason why private sector employers have such a difficult time recruiting and retaining workers.

It is also worth noting that the Filipino community may be on its way to become one of the largest voting blocks in the Yukon.

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.