In the past 18 months, Canada’s iconic coffee-and-doughnut chain Tim Hortons has quietly but persistently lobbied federal MPs to allow some of its franchisees to hire more temporary foreign workers (TFWs). This push, coming at a time of rising joblessness, growing concerns over the integrity of foreign-worker programs, and public calls to prioritize Canadian workers, has ignited a heated national debate. At the heart of the controversy is a simple question: when there are Canadians willing to fill jobs, should big corporations be allowed to bring in foreign labour instead?
What happened – the lobbying campaign and its ask
According to recently released lobbying records, Tim Hortons (and its parent company Restaurant Brands International, or RBI) has been asking the federal government to raise the cap on TFWs for some franchisees from 20 per cent to 30 per cent. Yahoo News
- The letter making the request dates back to May 2024, referencing labour shortages in the food-service sector.
- In 2024, Ottawa lowered the cap to 10 per cent for low-wage positions, yet in October 2025, Tim Hortons renewed its lobbying efforts, meeting with MPs from multiple parties.
- Apart from raising the cap, Tim Hortons also asked for more “flexibility”, including faster visa renewals and more stable employment prospects for TFWs staying longer in Canada.
Tim Hortons argues this is not just about corporate convenience, but about filling jobs in rural or smaller communities, where finding local staff can indeed be challenging.
🇨🇦 The wider policy context — what Canada’s doing with the TFW Program
For years, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has allowed Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals temporarily when no Canadian or permanent resident is available. But recently, the federal government has tightened rules. Canada.ca
- In August 2024, the government stressed that TFWP is a “last resort,” and warned against its misuse.
- As of 2025, only about 1 per cent of Canada’s workforce are TFWs — and low-wage streams have dropped dramatically after reforms.
- To enforce compliance, authorities have stepped up inspections. In fiscal year 2024–25, the number of employers penalized for violations nearly doubled.
In short: Ottawa is trying to prioritize Canadians for jobs and clamp down on abuse of the system. Against that backdrop, Tim Hortons’ lobbying is being viewed by many as a push for exceptions.
Outsourcing youth jobs or addressing real shortages?
The job market is tough – especially for young Canadians
Canada is currently seeing elevated unemployment, particularly among young people. A 2025 poll found that 44 per cent of Canadians support abolishing the TFWP altogether, citing concerns about foreign workers taking jobs from locals. 650 CKOM
Critics argue it makes little sense for a massive, high-profile national chain – with resources for training and retention- to rely on TFWs for entry-level jobs in cities and towns where Canadian youth are seeking employment. As one recent news piece noted, Ontario’s unemployment issues have sparked “rage” over hundreds of recent labour-market impact assessments (LMIAs) – the paperwork employers must get before hiring TFWs.
The optics: a Canadian brand leaning on foreign labour
Tim Hortons presents itself as a deeply Canadian symbol — but critics say its aggressive TFW lobbying undermines that image. For many Canadians, seeing what they view as easily filled jobs being outsourced abroad feels like a betrayal. Some young job seekers sharing their frustration online say they applied for dozens of entry-level jobs – only to see TFW-approved postings for the same roles go unfilled locally.
Moreover, the move has become a political lightning rod. Politicians and policy-makers — including opposition leaders – are pointing to Tim Hortons as an example of corporate abuse of immigration- and labour-policy loopholes.
Program misuse and worker protections under scrutiny
The government’s recent crackdown is not just rhetorical. In 2024–2025, inspections of employers using the TFWP revealed many non-compliant cases – ranging from poor working conditions, wage issues, to failure to properly recruit Canadians or permanent residents first.
Although Tim Hortons has publicly committed to compliance — stating that it does not tolerate employers charging recruitment fees to workers and will investigate serious allegations by third parties. For some Canadians, those assurances don’t alleviate concerns when a large employer lobbies for broader access to foreign labour rather than hiring locally.
Who is affected — beyond Tim Hortons (and foreign workers)
- Young Canadians and job-seekers – Many face a tough job market, and low-wage service jobs at restaurants or cafés are often a stepping-stone. When TFWs fill those slots, it reduces opportunities for young Canadians trying to gain work experience.
- Rural and small-town communities – Some argue that Tim Hortons’ call for more TFWs is justified in areas with labour shortages. In remote or less populated areas, finding local staff — especially during peak hours — can indeed be difficult. Thus, there may be legitimate demand.
- Temporary foreign workers themselves – While TFWs can benefit from employment and income, they may also face precarious conditions, dependency on employers, limited rights, and uncertain future if the TFWP is tightened or eliminated.
- Canadian workforce and wages overall – Overreliance on foreign labour for low-wage jobs may contribute to wage stagnation, reduced bargaining power, and fewer incentives for employers to improve compensation or working conditions.
- Public trust and social cohesion – When major Canadian brands are seen prioritizing foreign labour over locals, it can fuel public resentment, social tensions, and distrust in immigration and labour-policy fairness.
What should Canadians do?
- Demand transparency and accountability. If companies like Tim Hortons want to use TFWs, there should be clear public reporting: how many TFWs are hired, where, in which roles, and under what conditions.
- Prioritize local hiring — especially for entry-level, low-skill jobs. With youth unemployment high, there should be stronger incentives or requirements to exhaust local labour pools first.
- Support training and retention of Canadian workers. Rather than relying on temporary labour, investments in training, better pay, and more stable scheduling could make these jobs more attractive to Canadians.
- Enforce compliance strictly. The government’s recent increase in inspections and penalties is a good step — but it must be sustained. Companies found abusing the program should face real consequences.
- Recognize legitimately underserved areas — but avoid blanket concessions. In remote or rural communities, TFWs can be important when jobs go unfilled. But broad permissions to hire foreign labour — especially in urban or oversupplied markets — risk undermining public confidence.
A test of values for Canada’s labour market
Tim Hortons’ lobbying for more temporary foreign workers is more than a corporate staffing request — it touches on core questions about what kind of Canada we want. Is the TFW Program meant to fill temporary, short-term gaps in remote or hard-to-staff areas? Or will it become a convenient alternative for corporations seeking cheap, flexible labour, even when jobs are available locally?
For many Canadians – especially young job seekers- the stakes are personal. The outcome of this debate could shape the future of retail and service-industry jobs across the country. And for policy-makers, it’s a moment to decide whether the TFW Program remains a narrowly tailored tool – or becomes a broader buffer for employers at the expense of Canadian workers.
At a time when many Canadians are struggling to find stable work, fairness, opportunity, and transparency should be more than just values on paper. They should guide how we build our workforce and protect the people who call Canada home.
