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Poll finds most want foreign worker program reformed or scrapped

Insights West says findings show B.C. residents 'despise' status quo on temporary foreign workers
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Table from poll results on Temporary Foreign Workers.

A majority of B.C. residents oppose the use of the controversial Temporary Foreign Worker program, according to an Insights West poll.

Fifty-three per cent of respondents opposed the program, which has been under intense recent criticism after some Victoria fast-food outlets hired foreign workers ahead of Canadian applicants.

Thirty-four per cent said they support the the program.

Federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney last month ordered a moratorium on the use of the program by restaurants.

Sixty per cent said they'd like to see the Temporary Foreign Worker program continue in B.C., but under greater scrutiny than now. Another 22 per cent said they'd abolish it altogether while just four per cent want to keep it unchanged.

"It is clear that British Columbians despise the status-quo on the temporary workers issue," Insights West vice-president Mario Canseco said. "Overall views of the program are unfavourable, but a change in some of the operational and logistics aspects is preferred by residents over the complete disappearance of the program."

Support was stronger (45 per cent) among those who voted for the BC Liberals in last year's provincial election than those who voted NDP (23 per cent.)

For more details see insightswest.com.