The Alberta Federation of Labour was quick to respond to a moratorium on the Temporary Foreign Worker program in the restaurant industry from the Federal Employment Minister – announced Thursday night.

Minister Jason Kenney announced the suspension of the Temporary Foreign Worker program – only in the restaurant industry – hours after a damning study was released by the C.D. Howe Institute.

In addition, there were allegations of abuse in the program, with employers accused of paying workers in the program lower wages, and providing fewer jobs for Canadians.

“The temporary foreign worker program must only and ever be a limited resort for employers who have made every possible effort to hire and train Canadians,” Kenney said.

The study concluded the program had brought on joblessness in B.C. and Alberta.

“This sends a very clear message that when our government says we won’t tolerate abuse, we completely mean what we say,” Kenney said.

In Alberta, Labour Minister Thomas Lukaszuk said the government needs to crackdown on the program, but the industry-wide moratorium is too harsh.

“I would rather focus on punishing those who have proven themselves to be abusive of the program, and fix a rather imperfect program,” Lukaszuk said Thursday night.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business agrees.

“To cut out an entire industry from the temporary foreign workers program we feel is a huge mistake, and will lead to serious consequences,” Dan Kelly with the CFIB said.

According to Kelly, the decision will lead to a number of businesses shutting down.

On Friday, the Alberta Federation of Labour said the federal government’s actions didn’t go far enough – the labour group called for a complete suspension of the program, and a full investigation by the Auditor General, saying problems with the program extend beyond the restaurant sector.

The federal government plans to keep the moratorium in place until a review of the employment program is completed.

With files from Ashley Molnar and Nicole Weisberg