A total of 23 businesses in Quebec are suing the Canadian federal government for $350 million, claiming that sudden changes to Canada’s foreign worker policy have led to major losses, some businesses even fearing in bankruptcy.
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As reported by CTV news, these businesses say the federal decision to reduce the number of foreign workers has left them living with the uncertainty of not knowing if they will be able to keep their operations running in the weeks or months ahead.
This lawsuit highlights just how important foreign workers are to the Canadian economy. Some may ask why don’t these businesses simply hire local workers? The fact of the matter is that many industries rely on temporary foreign workers to fill roles that are hard to staff locally, either due to a shortage of qualified applicants or the positions are less appealing to the local workforce. It is important to keep in mind that the federal government requires employers to prove they’ve made serious efforts to hire locally before they’re allowed to apply to bring in temporary foreign workers. Foreign workers are essential contributors who help keep certain businesses running.
The repercussions of the limitations on foreign labour could significantly impact the economy and public services across the country. This pressure is not just felt by the economy, but especially by the small businesses who are left short-staffed, and on governments who may eventually have to step in with financial support or the development of future programs.
The 23 businesses are urging Ottawa to revisit its recent policy changes and to reassess its effects before moving forward. As of now, it is unclear if the federal government will reconsider their decision as they have not responded.
As always, we will be monitoring the situation at hand and report back once more information unfolds.
Written by
Mariam Baher
Immigration Journalist
Mariam holds a Bachelor of Journalism with a minor in English from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). Her early interest in the intersection of law and marketing has grown into nearly seven years of experience in legal marketing, where her journalism background brings a storyteller's perspective to strategic, engaging marketing initiatives within the legal industry.
