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QUEBEC CITY — The Parti Québécois (PQ) is strategically turning to automation and robotics in an effort to combat a growing manpower shortage, aiming to reduce reliance on temporary immigrant workers in the province’s diverse fields and factories.
Presse Canadienne has secured insights into the robotization and automation segment of the PQ’s anticipated policy framework, set to be unveiled on Monday. This component addresses the province’s pressing labor challenges, reflecting the party’s commitment to shaping a self-sufficient workforce.
Long awaited, this initiative is a direct rebuttal to the Century Initiative lobby group, which has consistently pushed for the substantial increase of Canada’s population to 100 million primarily through immigration. The PQ seeks to refocus these discussions towards technological solutions instead.
Reports indicate that the PQ’s plan aims to slash the number of temporary foreign workers in Quebec from the current 270,000 to a significantly reduced figure of 40,000. This radical shift highlights the party’s prioritization of automation in tackling the labor crisis.
“The exponential rise in temporary workers has not resolved our labor issues, and in fact, these challenges appear to worsen in many industries,” stated PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon in a recent interview with Presse Canadienne published Sunday. His remarks underline the party’s dedication to exploring innovative alternatives to immigration.
The party is determined to debunk what it calls “the myth, the crude falsehoods perpetuated by certain lobbies” that equate immigration with solutions to the labor shortage. In reality, the shortfall persists despite the influx of new arrivals, as highlighted by St-Pierre Plamondon.
In seeking to remedy the acute labor shortages, the PQ envisions adopting successful models from countries facing similar workforce dilemmas, such as South Korea, Japan, and Germany. Notably, these nations have made substantial investments in research and robotic technologies to bolster their economies.
If elected, a PQ administration would establish a dedicated fund for robotization, aimed at financially supporting businesses that transition toward automation, according to St-Pierre Plamondon. Furthermore, the party would task the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (National Institute of Scientific Research) with energizing research and development efforts in fields like industrial, manufacturing, and agricultural robotics.
Additionally, a PQ government would enhance the province’s innovation investment program to include an automation element, particularly directed at businesses struggling with labor shortages. This initiative would be in conjunction with the planned investment in the 2023-2028 bio-food innovation program.
“The agricultural sector faces a significant challenge,” acknowledged St-Pierre Plamondon. “We recognize that we cannot immediately withdraw all temporary workers from an industry so heavily reliant on them.”
According to the PQ leader, Quebec’s sluggish pace in embracing robotization can be largely attributed to historically abundant and inexpensive labor, which has effectively stunted the drive for business automation. For instance, the current ratio stands at 176 robots for every 10,000 employees in Canada, starkly contrasting with South Korea’s ratio of 932 robots for the same number of workers, as detailed in PQ documentation.
“This is an enormous delay,” lamented St-Pierre Plamondon. “It is striking to observe that nations like South Korea and Japan, which did not heavily rely on immigration, have achieved far greater levels of robotization than we have.”
Moreover, St-Pierre Plamondon pointed out that over one-third of vacant positions in Quebec are concentrated in three key sectors employing temporary immigrants. The production sector is particularly notable, with a 16 percent vacancy rate and being most conducive to robotization; followed by wholesale and retail, experiencing a 12 percent vacancy rate; and the accommodation and restaurant services, where nine percent of positions remain vacant, albeit facing complex challenges related to automation.
The PA framework, however, lacks critical information regarding the financial investments required from companies embarking on the robotization journey, as well as the anticipated governmental funding and estimates on the number of robots or automation devices needed for effective implementation.
St-Pierre Plamondon clarified that the document serves as a foundational policy framework, with the full PQ platform, containing concrete and updated data, expected to be presented in two years, coinciding with the provincial elections. He emphasized, “We have conducted several consultations, but precise figures are still forthcoming. We are presenting a philosophical shift and addressing the misinformation that has circulated within this debate. In the next phase, we will approach it sector by sector to determine specific investment needs.”
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