The head of a Guelph-based company are speaking out against changes to a federal program for temporary foreign workers.

Linamar CEO Linda Hasenfratz says her company is being penalized for using foreign workers even though they only do so because they can’t find willing Canadians to take the positions.

In the past year, Linamar has brought in 50 temporary skilled trades workers from the Philippines, and has plans to hire 20 more.

“It would be a heck of a lot easier and cheaper to hire somebody here in Canada for that same job,” she says.

But due to changes to the foreign workers program announced earlier this week, bringing over skilled trades workers will be more difficult.

Hasenfratz says the jobs might move to the United States.

Linamar opened a plant in North Carolina in 2010. By the end of 2013, it will employ 200 people – and Hasenfratz says Canadian jobs could be moved there.

“I guess that would be an option, but I’d prefer not to do that,” she tells CTV.

Hasenfratz says she has yet to take her concerns up with the federal government directly.