Ocean Choice still struggling for workers

Planes, buses, and even the lure of the sea, have not been enough to fill all the positions available at the Ocean Choice lobster processing plant in Souris, P.E.I.

'People have got to make a decision whether they want to work.' Dave Harding

In 2006, the company made headlines when it brought in 30 workers from Russia to help out on the line. It has brought in 14 this year, and its recruitment drive has attracted workers from around the Maritimes and as far away as Toronto.

In a new effort this year, the company has also arrangeda bus to drive workers the 80 kilometresfrom Charlottetown to the plant, and is picking up part of the fare. About 50 workers go to work this way daily.

Yet, despite all the different methods to lure employees and despite being in an area with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, Ocean Choice says it's still short a few employees.

"I don't think it's the company," Dave Harding, one of the workers who commutes by bus from Charlottetown,told CBC News on Monday.

"It's just people have got to make a decision whether they want to work or not."

Ken Farewell added having available transportation was important for him.

"Reason why I took the job is because they provided a bus to get there. It's a long way," said Farewell.

"I don't want no damn systems, I don't want no welfare or pogey."

Christine Babakhanian said she came to Souris from Toronto to work in the plant. She's never worked in a fish plant before, but when she heard there were jobs available, she thought it would be a good opportunity to see some more of the country.

"They said there's a lot of ocean here. So go for a dip, shop a little, see what P.E.I. has to offer," said Babakhanian.

"Learn more about the place and work at the same time, make some money."

The company's recruitment campaign also attracted some experienced workers: about 50 women from a plant on the Acadian peninsula joined up when work at their home plant was done.

Company officials said theywould have liked to have brought in more workers from Russia, but changes in Canada's foreign workers laws meant many who wanted to come couldn't.

Gia Mzhavanadze said he came from Russia to work for Ocean Choice buthad to leave his wife behind.

"I don't know why: she want to work here, but she couldn't get visa," said Mzhavanadze.

All the same, he said, he is glad he was able to come.

"If you go to Russia and see, you can understand, I don't know why but it's good here, really good. It's better here."

Ocean Choice said the government turned down 51 Russian applicants, as well as 15 from northern India.

Immigration Canada said it follows a selective process whereby foreign workers deemed at risk of defecting are rejected.