OTTAWA — Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Randy Boissonnault recently provided details on the measures of the Temporary Foreign Workers program, mostly aimed at its impact in Quebec.
- The 10 per cent employer cap on temporary foreign workers under the Low-wage Stream of the TFW Program will now apply nationwide, including in Quebec’s Simplified Treatment occupations.
- All Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) approved for Low-wage Stream positions will be limited to a maximum one-year work duration, including those processed under Quebec’s Simplified Treatment.
- The Refusal to Process (RTP) policy will apply to all Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) with unemployment rates exceeding six per cent, including in Quebec.
The federal government is set to reduce the number of international students allowed to enter Canada next year, as part of its ongoing efforts to address housing and affordability concerns. For the foodservice industry, which is the biggest employer of youth, this further increases the challenge of recruiting the necessary workforce.
In 2025, the number of new international student study permits will decrease by 10 per cent from the 2024 target of 485,000, bringing the total to 437,000. This target will remain in place through 2026.
Restaurants Canada has and continues to make representation to various Ministers and MPs and will continue to advocate for a carve out for remote, rural and touristic areas, as well as the creation of a matching and training program for newcomers to help our industry fill the 72,000 current vacant jobs.
