Immigration to the rescue of factories in the Acadian Peninsula

Bolero Shellfish Processing has been employing foreign workers at its seafood processing plant for five years now.

But this year, the Saint-Simon company had to hire around fifty, double the number last year.

The plant’s director of operations, Serge Haché, mentions that the cost of this labor is absorbed by the company.

” The myth is that the government pays for this. But this is totally false. Employers, just with Services Canada, we now pay $1,000 per individual. If you have 50 employees, that’s $50,000 just for records. »

It is also necessary to find accommodation for these employees once they arrive in the country. Employers have made several acquisitions of buildings in order to transform them into residential buildings for these workers.

A school transformed into housing

Bolero Shellfish Processing has taken possession of the former Saint-Simon school. The building, which is currently under construction, will eventually become an apartment building.

There are several factories that have appropriated houses, buildings, etc. to build housing because we are already in a housing crisis in the Acadian Peninsula and all over the province continues Serge Haché.

They are responsible for paying their renthe continues. We cannot charge them rents higher than the norm. Everything is overseen by Services Canada. They should be treated like all locals too. You can’t pay them any differently than the locals.

A great experience

These foreign workers are hired for work periods ranging from six months to a year and come mostly from Mexico.

This is the case of José Luis Serna Silva, who is starting his fifth year at the Saint-Simon plant and who says he appreciates the warm welcome of the people of the region.

Everywhere I go, if they know I’m from another country, they say “Oh, welcome!” I have a great experience here. For us Mexicans, it’s really easy to come and work here.says the young man of 27 years.

In some situations, entrepreneurs have to deal with the vagaries of immigration services.

However, the fishing industry has an employment code that is a priority in the Immigration Canada program. But it does take time. And we’re not the only ones. There are other factories that have employees who are in Canada who cannot work because they have not yet received approval from Immigration Canadaargues Serge Haché, director of operations at Bolero Shellfish Processing.

Immigration is the future

Often called upon for immigration files that drag on, the federal deputy for Acadie-Bathurst, Serge Cormier, ensures that he does everything in his power to facilitate the process which is very complicated.

We are asked why it takes so long to obtain a work permit or stability in the region. We’re helping businesses navigate a complicated immigration system, but we’re working to simplify it he assures.

The member warns, however, that we must be careful when a company brings foreign workers into the country. Nevertheless, he believes that the future of certain communities depends on immigration.

He goes on to say that these people need to feel accepted in the communities through various gestures of mutual aid and to remember the successes of immigration for the survival of some of the most important seafood processing companies in the Acadian Peninsula.

” We have education to do. It is not true that they are stealing jobs from our companies. Factors such as the aging population and employment insurance contribute to labor shortages. Without immigration, our communities may face difficult times. »

With the shortage of day laborers in the region and the aging workforce already in place, hiring foreign workers is crucial to the prosperity of processing plants in the Acadian Peninsula.

With information from journalist Mario Mercier