Editor's note: This is a copy of a letter to John Weston, MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country. It was copied to The Chief for publication.
First off, congrats on re-election, you had my vote from the beginning.
Secondly, an issue has been bothering me for a while and a recent article in the Squamish Chief dated June 3, 2011 ("Squamish EI increase tops in B.C."). In this very informative article it states Squamish and area as having the highest unemployment rate in the entire province of B.C. While this does not surprise me as I was one of the few that were against the Winter Olympics because back then I could already see that it would leave us nothing but debt and no jobs. The only real benefit, I personally can see to Squamish was a highway that makes it even quicker to bypass Squamish and joblessness. Businesses in Squamish have been closing down quietly in the night and the jobs are gone. I attribute most of this to the rampant NIMBYism and environmentalisms in the area, but that's not the focus of this letter.
The reason I write this letter is to highlight some businesses in Squamish and Whistler that are importing workers to work in their businesses and not hiring from the local population. Two visible and very public examples are Tim Hortons in Squamish and Whistler Blackcomb/Intrawest in Whistler. First, let's deal with Tim Hortons, as of lately the increased number of Filipino workers at the one store in Squamish has exploded. I asked two workers there where they were from and they explained they were brought in on work permits. Mr. Weston, if Squamish has the highest unemployment rate, why is this company importing workers to take jobs away from the local population? I read the local paper religiously and I have not seen an ad for jobs in Tim Hortons in well over six months, yet they are bringing in new staff all the time.
Whistler Blackcomb/Intrawest: This subject actually ties into two areas, Mr. Weston. No. 1, in the 10 years that I have lived and worked in the area including Whistler, if my memory serves me right, I never seen a job fair in Squamish or Pemberton put on by Whistler Blackcomb/Intrawest trying to recruit local people to work there. Yet every winter I go up there, there are "lifties" from every corner of the planet working close to full-time hours on the mountains. Again Mr. Weston, why is this company being allowed to bring in non-Canadian citizen workers without first hiring local workers? We have the highest unemployment rate in B.C. and we are only 45 minutes away. This is a case of 1+1=72.
This subject also ties in with the locals that live in Squamish trying to keep a commuter service going for those that work in Whistler but reside in Squamish. For months and even years, Whistler has complained that they do not want to fund this as there is a low ridership on these commuter buses. Well, it seems as clear as glass: If Whistler Blackcomb/Intrawest hired as many employees as possible out of Pemberton and Squamish, that ridership would also increase as many would use the commuter bus to get to their jobs in Whistler, thus reducing the economic cost to the SLRD, Squamish and Whistler. I mean, it's such a simple solution, it's almost stupid.
I hope these bring some light to any thoughts on issues you may having in these areas, Mr. Weston. I have faith that the Conservative Party will continue to keep the country and hopefully the Sea to Sky area on the straight and narrow. As much as people I've talked to have said negative things about the Conservative Party, I have read and seen how the party kept Canada's butt out of the proverbial frying pan back in 2008-'09.
Jason Bechard
Squamish
Editor's note: The above-mentioned article stated that Squamish had the highest percentage increase in Employment Insurance claimants of any community in B.C. from March 2010 to March 2011, not the highest unemployment rate.
When asked for a comment about the hiring of foreign workers at the local Tim Hortons, David Morelli, director of public affairs for Tim Hortons Canada, said the company often hires foreign workers "to keep our restaurants open. When we can't find enough local staff, we go to the Temporary Foreign Worker program. Chain stores and businesses across the West have had to resort to this program to keep businesses open and serve local residents. Also, the owner of the Squamish Tim Hortons has, in fact, hired three people locally in the past month and has made extensive efforts to hire as many local workers as possible."
