Temporary Foreign Worker halt stokes Yukon Filipino fears

Some Filipino workers in the Yukon are worried about being kicked out of the territory.

Their concern comes after the federal government's Temporary Foreign Worker Program was suspended for the food industry.

"Not only they are worried about themselves and the work they are doing right now, but also the status that they have in Yukon in particular, says Mike Buensuceso, president of the Canadian Filipino Association of the Yukon.

Most Filipino workers come in through the Yukon Nominee Program.

It differs from the Temporary Foreign Worker Programbecause a nominee can apply for residency after one or two years of a temporary contract.

Shawn Kitchen is with theYukon Department of Education, which handles immigration for the territory.

He says there's nothing to worry about.

"Their visas are not being impacted by the changes that we're seeing on a federal level."

Last year, the Yukon Government launched its own version of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for seasonal industries.

So far, around 10 workers have been approved under that program.

Buensuceso is a fan of the Yukon Nominee Program.

He says most foreign workers in the industry want to seek permanent residency.

Most Filipinos workers here do not want to be here temporarily, Buensuceso says.

"They just fall in love with this place. If they can really get their permanent residence, they'll be really happy because they know they can really contribute to the community as a whole."