Irish workers hired for Canadian labor shortage

Saskatoon — Some 280 skilled Irish workers were recruited by Canadian construction firms in March to supply the need for workers in new potash and oil and gas construction projects in Western Canada. The recruitment recently made news as some 50 pipefitters, some 20 Irish recruits, were laid off by PCL Construction, a contractor at Agrium Inc.’s Vanscoy potash expansion. PCL stressed to Green Markets that there is no work slowdown at Vanscoy, that the pipefitters would just not be needed again until early next year. PCL said it offered the Irish workers jobs at other Saskatchewan work sites, but they refused. The employees are reportedly now working with provincial authorities to find work.