CUPE, a union that represents numerous airport workers at Fort MacMurray International Airport, is asking Brian Jean to stop the proposed layoffs at the airport which are scheduled to take place in May. The layoffs will cost 24 full time employees and 1 part time employee their positions, which pay $28 an hour on average. The union is asking for intervention from Brian Jean because of previous comments he had made in the past which were critical of the temporary foreign worker program. Merle Roberts, the president of CUPE Alberta, released a statement which said “When he was in the House of Commons, Mr. Jean made very clear statements about the TFW program. It’s time he intervened in the Fort McMurray situation.”

In the past Brian Jean has been critical about the temporary foreign worker program because some Canadian citizens have been replaced with foreign workers. Past comments by Jean lead the union to believe that he may intervene in the situation at Fort MacMurray International Airport. Past comments by Jean which have been critical of the TFW program include “I have heard from union and non-union members throughout my constituency that they clearly want some changes to the temporary foreign worker program. We are here for Canadians, and Canadians should have first crack at any job they want, no matter what part of the country they are from.” Jean also previously said “We have no toleration for those people who abuse the system and we have no tolerance for those who abuse their workers.” Don Scott discussed the staffing changes and said “I have been told by senior leadership at the airport there was no TFWs involved in the contract.”