The federal government announced new measures on Friday, allowing rural employers to hire a higher percentage of low-wage temporary foreign workers for a limited time. These measures will enable eligible rural regions to have up to 15% of their workforce in this category, an increase from the current cap of 10%. Employers can also keep their existing temporary foreign workers.
Provinces and territories must opt in for these changes to be effective in their areas, with implementation possible within two weeks of a positive request. The measures will be in place until the end of March 2027.
The government justified these measures by citing persistent labor shortages in certain regions, where businesses struggle to find suitable candidates. Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu emphasized the need to prioritize Canadians for available jobs but acknowledged the challenges faced by employers in rural areas.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been a vocal critic of the temporary foreign worker program, advocating for its abolition to improve job opportunities for young Canadians. However, his office did not provide immediate comments on the recent government announcement.
The government clarified that existing sector-specific exemptions for low-wage temporary foreign workers in healthcare, construction, and food processing sectors remain unchanged.
Various business advocacy groups have expressed support for the upcoming measures. Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, urged all provinces to request these new flexibilities for employers. Kelly Higginson, president and CEO of Restaurants Canada, welcomed the changes as a positive step towards addressing labor shortages in the restaurant industry and called for prioritizing the foodservice sector in affected regions.
