Quebec manufacturers fear ‘catastrophic autumn’ due to declining foreign worker numbers

The flight simulator assembly plant is seen at the CAE facility in Montreal, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

The decline in the number of temporary foreign workers is worrying Quebec’s manufacturing sector, which fears a “catastrophic autumn” for the workers and businesses affected.

“It’s really one minute to midnight because people are starting to leave,” said Julie White, president and CEO of Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters (MEQ), in an interview on Monday. “When you don’t know if you’ll be able to work in the fall, you might decide to leave.”

She is asking Prime Minister Mark Carney to grant grandfathering rights to workers already in Canada.

“We are asking the federal government to allow these workers to stay in Quebec,” said White. “They already have housing. They are already here. They are working. They are paying taxes.”

Since the spring, the business community has been increasingly vocal in its opposition to the tightening of criteria for access to temporary foreign workers.

Previously, companies could only hire 20 per cent of low-wage temporary foreign workers. This threshold has been lowered to 10 per cent. Companies could lose workers who are essential to their smooth operation if nothing is done quickly.

• READ MORE: 23 Quebec business owners launch $300 million lawsuit over temporary foreign worker permits

According to White, this tightening is “putting a spoke in the wheel” for companies that are already dealing with an uncertain economic environment in the wake of the trade war.

MEQ cites revenue losses if companies are unable to recruit the necessary workforce.

“There is a lot of nervousness on the part of businesses, and a lot of misunderstanding about what is happening.”

In Quebec, a worker earning less than $34.62 per hour is considered low-paid, according to the terms established by the federal government based on the median wage.

This threshold does not take into account the reality of several regions, lamented White.

“It must be understood that, in several regions, $34 is much higher than the average income. So, this creates difficulties,” she said.

White said that she has the ear of Quebec elected officials in the Carney government, but things are not moving fast enough for her liking.

“It’s good to be listened to, but we need to be able to make a difference. We don’t feel that Ottawa shares the same sense of urgency that we have in the regions of Quebec right now.”

The office of Employment and Families Minister Patty Hajdu defended the changes, which are intended to “reduce Canadian employers’ dependence on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).”

“To be clear, the TFWP is designed as an extraordinary measure to be used to fill critical employment gaps, only when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are unable to fill the vacancies,” insisted the minister’s attaché, Jennifer Kozelj.

“It does not replace Canadian talent and is contingent on ensuring that steps have been taken to recruit Canadian workers,” she added. “Now is the perfect time to invest in Canadian talent.”

Kozelj declined to comment on whether adjustments would be made to meet the demands of the business community.

White responded that foreign workers are necessary for manufacturers, as the local workforce is scarce and many workers are approaching retirement.

“If there were local workers, manufacturing companies would hire them,” she said.

Recruiting foreign workers involves costs and administrative procedures, which White estimates at approximately $15,000 per temporary worker.

“It takes time and investment,” she emphasized. “It’s not a simple solution. We don’t do it because it’s easier.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 21, 2025.