Conservative Failure to Settle Foreign Service Strike Damaging Canadian Economy

July 3, 2013

VANCOUVER— Liberal Small Business and Tourism critic Joyce Murray made the following statement today on the economic effects of the ongoing Canadian Foreign Service Officer strike:

“This Conservative government’s failure to settle the labour dispute with Canada’s Foreign Service Officers in a timely fashion is having serious consequences for our economy.

The two month strike at our embassies and missions abroad is resulting in much slower visitor and education visa approvals.

In fact, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada estimates that this visa backlog could have foreign visitors waiting up to 90 days for approval, a delay which would cost this summer’s tourism business $280 million and jeopardize tens of thousands of jobs in Canada.

Furthermore, this government’s Budget 2013 promise to increase the number of foreign students in Canada is also at risk. If international students can’t get their study visas in time for fall classes, these highly sought-after students will simply chose to study in a country able to process their paperwork.

We cannot afford to allow these visa delays to continue. It is time that the Harper Conservatives protect good middle class jobs in Canada and come up with a plan to end the Foreign Service strike.”