The Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) government is seeking input from residents regarding proposed regulations to fully activate the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act, with a specific focus on employers who hire migrant workers. The act, passed in 2022, has been implemented in stages, with Phase 1, which oversees recruiters, coming into effect in April 2025. Phase 2 aims to establish an employer registry and impose penalties on those violating the regulations.
According to Lucas MacArthur, the director of labour and industrial relations at P.E.I.’s Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning, and Population, the act aims to bridge gaps between federal immigration programs and provincial employment standards. There have been longstanding concerns about migrant workers being exploited by recruiters, involving illegal fees and deceptive practices.
Phase 1 of the act introduced a licensing system for foreign worker recruiters, with 10 recruiters currently licensed on P.E.I. The legislation prohibits recruiters from charging recruitment fees to workers and engaging in misleading practices. Phase 2, currently under review, will introduce an employer registry and penalties for non-compliance to enhance oversight of foreign worker employment in P.E.I.
Employers will be required to disclose their use of recruiters to identify unlicensed entities. The proposed regulations outline the information employers must provide, including business details, recruiter usage, job specifics for foreign nationals, and provision of benefits or accommodations. Feedback on the regulations can be submitted via email or in person until September 17.
Upon the completion of the public consultation and regulatory adjustments if necessary, the government will finalize the regulations. Once Phase 2 is implemented, the act will be fully enforced, aligning P.E.I. with other Canadian jurisdictions that have similar systems in place.
Image: Foreign workers play a significant role in P.E.I.’s agriculture and seafood sectors.