Posted on 02/24/2007 12:22:11 AM PST by FLOutdoorsman
North American CEO group recommends Canada import temporary workers
Canada and Mexico should accelerate efforts to import temporary Mexican energy workers to alleviate the skills shortage in Alberta and other provinces as oil sands development ramps up, top North American CEOs will recommend today.
They will also call for Canada, the United States and Mexico to start work on harmonizing regulations and standards in three sectors: financial services, transportation, and food and agriculture, The Globe and Mail has learned.
The 30 chief executive officers make up the North American Competitiveness Council, formed last year to advise political leaders on strengthening economic ties between Canada, the United States and Mexico.
They're tabling a 63-page report with 51 recommendations today as top politicians from all three countries meet in Ottawa to advance a continental security and prosperity partnership first struck in 2005. They include U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Patricia Espinosa, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay and Industry Minister Maxime Bernier.
The report will also call for contingency plans to quickly reopen North American borders after a terrorist attack or natural disaster occurs.
CEOs will argue that Mexico stands to benefit in the long run from training people to help develop its own energy sector.
Members of the council include Dominic D'Alessandro of Manulife Financial, Paul Desmarais Jr. of Power Corp. of Canada and Michael Sabia of BCE Inc.
The group counts seven other Canadian CEOs as members, as well as 10 American and 10 Mexican chief executives.
They're recommending both short-term goals for 2008 and longer-term targets for 2010.
Thomas d'Aquino, head of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, wouldn't discuss the contents of the report but lauded the fact that it managed to find a corporate consensus among three countries in less than one year.
"I would say that in a relatively small amount of time to pull together Mexican, American and Canadian positions on subjects as complex as . . . [these] is a definite sign of progress," Mr. d'Aquino said.
The 2005 security and prosperity deal was aimed at defending North America against terrorism or natural disasters and helping it better fend off economic threats from China and India. It committed Canada, the United States and Mexico to co-operate closely in three separate areas: security, economic and regulatory standards.
The report tackles three concerns for North American businesses: border crossings, energy supplies and the lack of harmony in regulations and standards between Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The lion's share of recommendations -- 23 -- are aimed at smoothing border crossings, including upgrading bridges, tunnels and border approaches that help ferry goods between the three countries.
They call for a reduction in redundant inspections, given that, for instance, vehicles and associated parts cross the Canada-U.S. border roughly seven times in the process of auto manufacturing.
Another 18 recommendations lay out proposals for regulatory co-operation and 10 call for work on integrating North American energy supplies and distribution.
The three countries have pledged to hammer out a framework for regulatory harmonization this year. They're also working on developing compatible screening practices for incoming travellers and cargo, and more co-operation on intelligence.
But since Katrina, and the large influx of illegals into the area, I think we'll be seeing more of them taking the jobs down here Americans want to do.
Thanks, Jorge!
Thirty years ago, domestic workers were willing to go to places such as western Texas or western Kansas for those jobs. They won't do it anymore.
Consider the planned and sizably large increases in production of crude from the Canadian oil sands, there is no way that can be done without importing labor.
Horse crap. Hell, they'll work a much more hostile (weather wise) oil patch in North Dakota or Alaska, even. But don't try to get them to do it for Mexican wages. That is what this is about.
And in just a few years, it will be getting worse.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1790310/posts
Same meeting?
If you want a job and are willing to work, you have one right now.
One operator I have done work for tried to bump our day rate down with "in Texas they do it for..." and quoted a price which was about 30% of what the going rate is here.
If they are doing it for that there, they are paying Mexican wages, and the union Bagger at a Safeway Store makes more, stays clean and is home every night.
Pay our people what they are worth, and there will be people working without importing Mexicans to get the job done.
Flood the labor pool with people who will work for that 30% and you are right, and you won't be able to find a rig anyone speaks English on.
Fewer and fewer want to work 21 on and 3 off under all conditions or wander aroud the nation in an 18 wheeler for extended periods. At any pay.
You're right, if someone wants the job, he can have it. And if he is a go getter, he can go get some good money.
Oil Patch Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
The problem getting experienced oil industry workers today is for many of them there is plenty of work at home. At least that is true for the engineers and designers in the industry. We hire them for Alaska. Today high rates and overtime are available often to them where they already live. If I want them to drag up and come to the frozen North in the winter, I should expect to pay a premium.
That is the result of a great increase in the demand for labor, not a change in the supply of labor. High oil prices freed a lot of dollars for the industry to invest in exploration and production. Many more jobs exist that did not exist 5 years ago.
Canada ping.
Canada ping.
Please send me a FReepmail to get on or off this Canada ping list.
I guarantee you that the first Mexican to hit Fort McMurray will last about two minutes...Albertans DO NOT play well with others (especially immigrants seeking jobs and lowering their living wage)!
But since Katrina, and the large influx of illegals into the area, I think we'll be seeing more of them taking the jobs down here Americans want to do.
That's just a start. Watch your hospital emergency rooms overflow with illegals. Your schools will overflow with illegals. Look at California to see what you have to look forward to. Thank You, Jorge!
Goodness knows that the oil companies can't afford to pay a fair wage.
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