Canada PoliticsBob Rae criticizes the temporary foreign workers program on Twitter, Jason Kenney has a fit
The #cdnpoli world was treated to a pretty epic Twitter war this morning with two political heavyweights.
Former interim Liberal leader Bob Rae weighed-in to the temporary foreign worker debate.
TFW issue has roots in Reform's anti-immigration bias - explosion in "temporary" category is all about segregating and excluding. #cdnpoili
— Bob Rae (@BobRae48) April 30, 2014
Rae seemed to suggest that the Conservative Party's affinity for the temporary foreign worker program is borne from the 'anti-immigration' Reform Party; that the Tories were deliberately bringing in temporary immigrants instead of permanent ones.
Employment Minister — and former immigration minister — Jason Kenney took umbrage to that. Boy, did he take umbrage.
Here's his 18 tweet response.
That's obscene & beneath you, @BobRae48. We've increased immigration to record levels, the highest per capita level in the developed world. — Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
in its first 5 yrs in office, Chretien govt *cut* immigration levels by 32%. Our govt has increased average annual levels by 14% @BobRae48.
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Average annual admission of permanent residents 1994-2005 = 222K. Average levels 2006-2013 = 255K, @BobRae48. "Anti immigration bias"???? — Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Since coming to office, we have tripled the number of "temporary foreign workers" who obtain permanent residency, from 13K to 38K @BobRae48
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
We created an entire new immigration category, the Canadian Experience Class, specifically to allow TFWs to transition to PR, @BobRae48. — Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
We tripled settlement funding for newcomers from $200M in 2005 to $600M now, @BobRae48. That reflects an "anti-immigration bias?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
In 1995 Liberal govt imposed a $1000 Right of Landing Fee on new permanent residents, @BobRae48. In 2006 we cut it in half.Anti-immigration? — Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
We increased 8-fold the Provincial Nominee Programs, which are often used to transition lower skilled TFWs to PR, @BobRae48. Anti-immigrant?
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Our 8x increase in prov nominees has brought huge diversity to many rural western communities, tripling immigration to prairies, @BobRae48 — Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
We're also admitting record numbers of foreign students & visitors, @BobRae48. Is that all about "segregating and excluding?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Largest growth in TFWP has been in reciprocal youth mobility programs, @BobRae48. Aussies working @ Whistler during gap yr are "segregated?" — Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
The # of "temporary foreign workers" coming to do academic research & studies has tripled to 11K since 2005, @BobRae48. They're "excluded?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
4 of the top 5 source countries for the TFWP are the US, France, UK & Australia, @BobRae48. Germany & Ireland also in top 10. "Segregated?" — Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
The # of TFWs entering Canada has gone from .7% of workforce in 2006 to 1.1% of workforce in 2012, @BobRae48. This is "anti-immigration?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
If Reform Party had an "anti-immigration bias" why did it elect the 1st Muslim, 1st Hindu, & 1st South Asian woman to Parliament, @BobRae48? — Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
The Reform Party consistently won a plurality of the votes of immigrants in Western Canada, @BobRae48. Were they "anti-immigration" voters?
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
Your tweet is typical of Harper Derangement Syndrome:tendency on left to ascribe worst possible motives, even contrary to evidence @BobRae48 — Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
In parallel world of Harper Derangement Syndrome, the most pro-immigration govt in modern CDN history has "anti-immigration bias." @BobRae48
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014
You might want to forgive Kenney for his over-sensitivity to one little tweet — in response to someone who isn't even in Parliament anymore.
[ Related: Jason Kenney faces onslaught of criticism over temporary foreign worker moratorium ]
Kenney has been under intense fire for the TFW program after reports suggesting employers — particularly in the fast food sector — were misusing the program to the detriment of Canadians and Canadian jobs. The government has issued a moratorium for the fast food sector and is reviewing the program as a whole but the heat seems to be mounting.
Kenney was probably also annoyed by Rae's Reform Party reference: since their Reform days, the Tories been trying to shed that 'anti-immigration' moniker that dogged Preston Manning's party in their early years.
But like him or hate him, you've got to admit that Kenney's response here was pretty convincing. In the Twitter battle between Rae and Kenney — I'm giving this one to Kenney.
(Photo courtesy of The Canadian Press)
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