THUNDER BAY — Restaurants Canada is warning that calls to scrap the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) could hit rural and remote communities hardest—reducing hours, forcing closures, and costing local jobs across Northwestern Ontario.
While TFWs account for just 3% of the national foodservice workforce, they are often the skilled chefs and cooks that keep kitchens open when domestic hiring comes up short, the association says in a news release. It estimates recruitment can cost operators up to $8,600 per worker, underscoring that TFWs are a last resort—not a cheap option.
“Let’s work together to ensure rural and remote communities have a supply of key labour positions,” said Kelly Higginson, Restaurants Canada CEO, urging permanent solutions that keep small businesses alive.Where the Parties Stand
Conservatives: Abolish the TFW Program
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on the government to end the TFWP and stop issuing new permits, arguing the program depresses wages and crowds out opportunities for Canadian youth. The party outlines a plan to permanently scrap the program, create a separate track for legitimately hard-to-fill agricultural roles, and wind down remaining use in ultra-low-unemployment regions.
Liberals (Government): Tighten and Reduce, Not Scrap
The federal government has been tightening the TFWP rather than ending it—reducing the low-wage cap to 10%, shortening some job durations, and raising wage thresholds for LMIA applications as of June 27, 2025. Ottawa is also moving to shrink Canada’s temporary resident share to ~5% of the population over the next few years. The approach frames TFWP as a last-resort tool for genuine shortages with tougher compliance.
New Democrats: End Closed Permits, Overhaul the Program
The NDP has long criticized exploitation within the TFWP and is pressing to abolish closed (employer-tied) work permits, strengthen rights and enforcement, and expand pathways to permanent residency so workers aren’t trapped in precarious status.
Why It Matters in Thunder Bay & Northwestern Ontario
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Chronic shortages of experienced line cooks and chefs are common outside major centres; operators report posting for months without qualified local applicants. When that happens, losing access to TFWs can mean shorter hours—or shutters—especially for seasonal and remote venues that anchor tourism corridors from Thunder Bay to the North Shore. (Restaurants Canada says these roles are often the “cornerstone” that keeps doors open.)
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The region’s foodservice economy includes family-run diners, hotels, and Indigenous-owned enterprises serving communities where alternative dining options are limited. Restaurant closures ripple out to local suppliers, tourism operators, and student/youth employment. (Foodservice has been Canada’s #1 source of first jobs for decades, with youth making up ~40% of the sector.)
Local takeaway: An outright ban would likely be felt first in rural kitchens; a tighter, better-policed program keeps a safety valve for genuine shortages; an NDP-style overhaul could improve worker rights and retention—potentially stabilizing staffing in the North if pathways to permanence expand.
What Operators Should Watch Next
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Policy trajectory: Conservatives are campaigning to scrap the program; the government is dialling down volumes and raising wage floors; the NDP is pushing for rights-first reforms. Expect the TFWP to be a ballot-box issue for small business and rural communities. Conservative Party of Canada
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Compliance & costs: With higher wage thresholds and a 10% low-wage cap, operators considering TFWs should budget more time and dollars—and document local recruitment efforts thoroughly.
The Bottom Line
Restaurants Canada argues that while TFWs are a small slice of staffing, they are mission-critical in underserved areas. Thunder Bay’s dining scene—and the jobs it supports—could be caught in the crossfire as Ottawa and the parties debate whether to scrap, shrink, or reform the program.
