Travelling midway may tear down carnival for good if feds restrict temporary foreign workers

A midway in Manitobahas been encouraging thrill-seekers to "step right up" for more than 60 years, but the current ownerworries new federal government rules may preventhim fromwelcoming more guests next year.

Ken Kiernicki said his Wonder Shows midway, a travelling carnival poppingup at summer fairs throughout rural Manitoba, couldn't operate without dozens of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) to assemble the rides and run the games.

"Basically, if I don't get them, I'm going to shut my doors because I just can't find people to work," he said.

The midway operates "from the end of April to the end of August, andwe haven't even had one person come to the show office [this year] and say, 'Hey, I want a job.'"

The federal government announced Monday it wouldcut back on the number of temporary foreign workers it accepts.

Ottawa specifically plans to refuse applications for low-wage workers in areas of the country with an unemployment rate of at least six per cent in most sectors, except in"foodsecurity sectors," like agriculture,food and fish processingand industries with major staffing shortages likeconstruction and health care.

Impact in Manitoba not yet known

It's unclear at this point what the federal government considersa low wage, or if any parts ofManitobamay be impacted, as the unemployment rate in the province in July was5.7 per cent, even though all employment sectors were being counted.

Kiernicki said over time it's become more challenging to find employees for the midway he'sowned since 2000. He found interest from domestic workers waswaning, and newcomers didn't want to leave their families for the majority of the summer.

"We were just about ready to close the doors," Kiernicki said.

That changed when midway operators in other provinces told him about theTFW program.

He welcomed his first 10 employees in 2019. He's added five more seasonal workers, all from Jamaica, in every successive year, exceptfor the two summers wherepandemic restrictions grounded themidway. He's planning to apply for 30 workers next year more than half his entire staff of 45 to 50 people.

"They're hard workers. They enjoy coming here for four months," saidKiernicki, who explained the vast majority of his seasonal workers choose to return the next summer. "They're here to save some money and have a little bit of a better life back home."

Fedsfocused on low wages

Under the new rules, however, Wonder Shows ifit's permitted to hire temporary foreign workers would be prevented from hiringmore than 10 per cent of itstotalstaffthrough the TFW program.

Kiernicki said he couldn't put on his show with only a handful of seasonal employees.

The federal government intends tocurtail the number of low-wage temporary workers after some experts say the spike in foreign arrivals has fuelledunemploymentamong immigrants and young people.

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Housing Minister Sean Fraserwho was immigration minister when the TFW regulations were first relaxed in 2022 to address post-pandemic labour shortagessaid clamping down on temporary workerswill also alleviate some of the stressonthe housing market, especially at the lower end of the spectrum where competition for more affordable homes is fierce.

In the case of Kiernicki's workers, however, the company covers their lodgings.

Starting wages at his midway are around $16, slightly higher than the provincial minimum of$15.30, but his employees earn more because theyoften work 60 hours a week and earntime-and-a-half pay for their hours above the standard work week.

He also spends roughly$4,000 in fees andflights for each temporary worker.

"I don't like spending that money, but it makes the show go."

Chamber worried about business impact

Manitoba Chambers of Commerce president and CEO Chuck Davidson said he's worried the policy change will be detrimentalto some businesses, especially those based in ruralcommunities where the competition for workers is stiff.

"The reality is that businesses throughout the province,and this is not a big secret, have had a challenge with attraction of talent and immigration has been a key staple of a growing economy here in Manitoba and has been key for growing our workforce," he said.

In recent years, businesses in Manitoba have been using temporary workers in greater numbers than ever before, particularly in the transportation sector.

Ananalysis of federal data shows Manitoba businesses in the trades, transport, equipment operators and related occupations sector were cleared to hire 1,467 temporary foreign workers in 2023 an increase of 1,283per cent from the106 employees permitted in 2018,according to figures from Employment and Social Development Canada.

The Manitoba Trucking Association has heard complaints some foreign workers in its industry are beingexploited withinadequate pay, benefits and protections referringaccusations to enforcement agencies in a bid to root out any misuse of the TFW program.

The association wasn't available Monday to speak about the policy change, which may also impact some trucking businessestreating their employees well.

The provincial government also wouldn't provide an opinion on Monday regarding the federal announcement. Spokesperson Ryan Stelter said the governmentis reviewing the policy change.

Rural midway operator wonders about his future after feds scale back temporary foreign worker program

19 days ago

Duration 2:03

Ken Kiernicki says his Wonder Shows midway, a travelling carnival popping up at summer fairs throughout rural Manitoba, couldn't operate without dozens of temporary foreign workers to assemble the rides and run the games. But with the federal government announcing changes to the program, he worries it might be game over.