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OTTAWA — The “critical” problem B.C. companies face in trying to lure skilled foreign workers to sectors like high tech and film may have been resolved with a new federal policy on hiring short-term overseas help.

That was the preliminary conclusion Wednesday of B.C. Jobs Minister Shirley Bond, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, industry associations and one immigration policy expert in response to Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s plan to fast-track foreign talent, announced Tuesday as part of his federal economic update.

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Bond went so far as to say that the initiative could help convince Lululemon, which recently warned it could move its Vancouver head office overseas if the Temporary Foreign Workers program doesn’t become more flexible, to stay.

“We have worked very closely with Lululemon, we certainly don’t want to lose them, and they have some very legitimate concerns,” she said in an interview.