May 7, 2024
SHARE
The Backbench
#89 Canada’s Exploited Foreign Workers Program
Temporary foreign workers are relied upon to fill the gaps in the Canadian labour market.
Aviva Lessard
Senior Producer
Caleb Thompson
Audio Editor
Karyn Pugliese
Editor-in-Chief

But the system is convoluted and ripe with exploitation – all at a time when immigrants are being blamed by politicians and the public for the housing crisis.

The system needs an overhaul to protect our economy and the workers that make it tick. Are immigrants really to blame for the housing crisis? What types of immigrants are the feds targeting?

To find out, Mattea Roach asked lawyer Jonathon Braun, author and professor Catherine Connelly and economist Mikal Skuterud.

Host:  Mattea Roach

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guests: Jonathan Braun, Catherine Connelly, Mikal Skuterud

 

Background reading:

 

Sponsors: AG1, Douglas

 

For a limited time, get 6 months of exclusive supporter benefits for just $2/month. Go to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today. 

 

If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. 

 

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.

More from this series
The Liberals’ first piece of legislation, Bill C-2 is a sweeping 139-page omnibus bill.
June 10, 2025
Political divides are growing, and it’s not just over basic issues anymore. Increasingly, people are feeling differences in basic conduct, morality, and how they approach discussions. These divisions feel too big to ignore.
June 3, 2025
Earlier this year, Jagmeet Singh laughed off the idea of losing. Now, he’s out and the NDP is in free fall.
May 27, 2025
After a couple of weeks of pats on the back and trying to find Pierre Poilievre a new home, we’re finally seeing how Mark Carney’s government plans to tackle the country’s biggest problems and who he’s putting in charge to do it.
May 20, 2025
Mark Carney promised tougher bail and more police – a “get tough” agenda that the Liberals shoplifted right off the Conservative shelf.
May 13, 2025
Pierre Poilievre is packing his bags to rural Alberta, after losing his seat to Bruce Fanjoy. How the hell did Fanjoy do it? We asked him.
May 6, 2025
Carney wins, Poilievre loses, Jagmeet steps down. What went down?
April 29, 2025
Today we are bringing you a great episode from our friends at Canardian!
April 25, 2025
all podcasts arrow All Podcasts
The Backbench