The federal government should expand a pilot program that would make it faster and easier for foreign workers to come to the Yukon, said the territory's economic development minister, Jim Kenyon.

Kenyon told CBC News that the Yukon should be included in the program — already in place in Alberta and British Columbia — that fast-tracks the government approval process for employers in 12 high-demand sectors to hire workers from outside the country.

"The federal government now has said, 'OK, in certain classifications, we understand that there is a shortage ... all over Western Canada,' " Kenyon said last week.

"They've agreed to this with B.C. and Alberta, and we've asked for the same status in the Yukon."

Under the pilot program, which took effect Sept. 24, employers in Alberta and B.C. who qualify can receive government approval to hire foreign workers much faster, having their wait times cut from several months to a few weeks or less.

The 12 high-demand sectors that qualify under the program include construction, tourism, hospitality, retail and health care services. The pilot was launched in those two provinces in an effort to help ease extreme labour shortages for employers there.

Kenyon said he believes the Yukon is close to being included in the pilot project, adding that all of Western Canada is suffering from the same lack of workers.

"We could have used 50 people working in hotels this last summer," Kenyon said. "We know that we're going to have the same problem next year. Let's get on with bringing these people in."

Dozens of people have come to the Yukon to work under the federal Foreign Worker Program, but employers say it can be a lengthy process.