Introduction:The well-known Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons has been actively lobbying the government in recent years to relax the cap on the proportion of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) that franchisees can hire. The brand is pushing to increase the limit from 10% to 30% in an effort to alleviate labor shortages, but this has sparked widespread public debate. This article delves into the policy background, corporate motives, and various reactions, offering insight into the employment realities and policy dynamics behind Canada’s coffee industry.

Over the past year or so, the Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons has consistently lobbied the federal government, with its main demand being to raise the cap on the proportion of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) that some franchises can hire. Through a government information request, an internal letter sent by Tim Hortons to the then-Minister of Immigration in May 2024 was made public, revealing that the company wanted to significantly increase the foreign worker ratio from the original 10% to 30%.

As early as at least 18 months ago, Tim Hortons had repeatedly submitted documents and met with government officials and lawmakers to propose adjusting the cap on the proportion of foreign workers. The brand argues that the pandemic has had a tremendous impact on the restaurant industry, creating an unprecedented and long-standing labor shortage, thus making greater flexibility in workforce support urgently needed.

During the peak of the pandemic in 2021, the Canadian federal government temporarily relaxed the regulations, raising the cap on the TFW ratio to allow businesses to hire more foreign employees to meet operational needs. However, by 2024, the policy was adjusted again, lowering the cap back to 10%, putting greater staffing pressure on many businesses, including Tim Hortons.

Even as public opinion in Canada has grown more conservative on immigration policy in recent times, and the government has gradually tightened various immigration pathways, Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of Tim Hortons, continues to actively lobby. According to official records, RBI and Tim Hortons representatives had intensive meetings with multiple cross-party Members of Parliament and federal department officials on October 28, 2024, in an attempt to push for policy relaxation.

Moreover, sources reveal that Tim Hortons also hopes the government will provide visa renewal guarantees for existing foreign workers already employed and seek an expedited approval mechanism similar to the NEXUS program (a fast-track border crossing system between Canada and the United States) to simplify and speed up the visa application process for foreign employees.

In response to external criticism, Tim Hortons’ Director of Communications stated that the company is seeking “greater flexibility in hiring temporary foreign workers.” He particularly emphasized that in rural and small community areas where labor shortages are severe, foreign employees who are already legally working and contributing in Canada should be given opportunities to extend their work visas or even apply for permanent residency, thereby stabilizing the local workforce.

However, the proposal has faced strong opposition from all political parties in Canada. Some government officials have bluntly stated that the current Temporary Foreign Worker Program has already affected local youth, especially those entering the job market for the first time, in securing employment in grassroots industries such as restaurants, calling for a “thorough reform” of the system, or even its complete abolition.

Some commentators have also pointed out that while companies like Tim Hortons are advocating for an increased foreign worker ratio, they should also examine their own practices regarding wages and working conditions. They argue that “if businesses can’t find enough employees, it may not be due to a lack of labor, but rather because they fail to offer competitive wages and a worker-friendly environment. Businesses should prioritize improving these fundamental issues.”

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.