Tim Hortons and its parent company have spent more than 18 months pushing Canadian officials to raise the cap on temporary foreign workers at its franchises, CBC News has learned from documents the government released through access-to-information requests.
The coffee chain requested that the federal government increase the temporary foreign worker limit from 20% to 30%, citing labor shortages in the food service sector. Federal officials moved in the opposite direction, lowering the cap to 10% by year’s end.
Company representatives met with members of Parliament from Liberal, Conservative, and Bloc Québécois parties on October 28, according to the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada. The meetings included staff from the Prime Minister’s Office and multiple federal departments.
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Restaurant Brands International and Tim Hortons representatives lobbied former Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who confirmed the company sought commitments to continue visas for current employees. Miller, who now serves as culture and official languages minister, said any changes would be part of broader immigration policy discussions.
A May 2024 letter to Miller stated the food service industry faced unprecedented labor shortages following pandemic disruptions. Officials redacted the letter’s author and position before releasing the document. The letter sought the cap increase for some franchisees.
The company also requested a streamlined visa renewal process for existing temporary foreign workers, comparing the desired system to the Nexus program used at border crossings.
Bloc MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe confirmed a meeting with Tim Hortons franchisees from his riding in July. He said they wanted to return to the previous 20% cap. His party supports exceptions to the 10% limit only for Quebec sectors facing acute shortages, such as forestry.
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Conservative MPs met with company representatives but did not respond to requests for comment. The party has called for ending the temporary foreign worker program since September, citing concerns about youth unemployment.
Read: Pierre Poilievre Calls for End to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Tim Hortons communications director Michael Oliveira said the company seeks flexibility in hiring temporary foreign workers, particularly for rural and smaller communities. He noted the company is partnering with Restaurants Canada to address 70,000 vacant positions across the restaurant industry.
Oliveira said the company has seen increased harassment of staff, both online and at restaurants, with some individuals making assumptions about who qualifies as Canadian based on appearance.
The temporary foreign worker program allows employers to hire foreign nationals when Canadian workers or permanent residents are unavailable. Workers must obtain Labour Market Impact Assessments demonstrating the need for foreign labor.
Current regulations require foreign workers to apply for work permit extensions, which may involve employers resubmitting assessment documents to federal authorities.
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