Quebec employers urge swift immigration changes

The Quebec Employers Council (CPQ) and 18 sectoral associations are urging the provincial and federal governments to rapidly adjust immigration policies to prevent integrated temporary foreign workers from having to leave their jobs and the province despite persistent labour shortages.

At a press conference in Montréal on May 14, the CPQ said many temporary foreign workers (TFWs) already in Quebec, trained and fully integrated into the workforce, face an “inconsistency” between labour needs and immigration rules that is destabilising businesses.

“Quebec is currently facing an inconsistency that is weakening our businesses. Temporary foreign workers already here, trained and fully integrated into our workplaces, risk having to leave their jobs, and sometimes the country, even though labour needs remain very real in all regions and in several strategic sectors of our economy,” said Michelle Lambías Meunier, president and CEO of the Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ).

Number of temporary foreign workers in Quebec, past 5 years

The CPQ said these workers often cannot renew their work permits while also being unable to access permanent residency because of “a lack of sufficiently predictable thresholds and pathways aligned with labour market realities.” It said this “double bind” weakens companies that have invested in their integration and deprives Quebec of productive human capital.

The council is asking Quebec, through changes to the Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise, PEQ), to retain at least 10,000 additional workers already in the province in each of the next two years, describing them as trained, fully integrated and contributing “directly to the vitality of the Quebec economy.”

Provincial and federal measures sought

At the federal level, the CPQ wants Ottawa to amend the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to allow renewal of work permits for all workers already in Quebec, regardless of sector or region, when employers can demonstrate need.

The CPQ said employers across the economy view TFWs as a critical part of staffing strategies, not a marginal or short‑term solution, in industries facing ongoing labour shortages from construction to services.

“Entrepreneurs, project owners, associations, partners—we are all united by the same observation: a society cannot afford to neglect talent. Every skill counts, every effort counts in contributing to the vitality of Quebec,” said Isabelle Demers, vice‑president of strategic development, public affairs and innovation at the Quebec Construction and Housing Professionals Association.

The council pointed to federal data to underline the role of foreign workers in business continuity. “Government data published by Employment and Social Development Canada shows that 89% of employers who hired temporary foreign workers reported that it helped them stay in business,” said François Vincent, vice‑president, Quebec, at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

The CPQ said small and medium‑sized enterprises already facing rising costs, labour shortages and economic uncertainty are particularly exposed if integrated foreign workers are forced out.

Workers at risk of leaving due to immigration rule changes

Sector leaders warn of operational impacts

Health, tourism, hospitality and restaurants were among the sectors highlighting operational risks if access to TFWs is curtailed or renewals are blocked.

“In community pharmacies, TFWs are part of the solution to address the labour shortage, particularly among technical staff. Their presence helps stabilize teams across Quebec and maintain access to quality, local care,” said Benoît Morin, president of the Quebec Association of Pharmacy Owners, noting vacancy rates of 9 per cent for pharmacy technicians and 13.4 per cent for pharmacists.

Tourism and hotel leaders said recent provincial measures, including restrictions in Montréal and Laval and limits on the PEQ, are undermining capacity ahead of an expected strong tourist season. “The hotel sector must be recognized as a priority sector,” said Dominique Villeneuve, president and CEO of the Greater Montreal Hotel Association, warning Quebec risks losing trained, French‑speaking workers “to other provinces.”

Geneviève Cantin, president and CEO of the Quebec Tourism Industry Alliance, said tourism injects $19 billion into the Quebec economy each year, including more than $4.4 billion in foreign currency, and warned that reducing access to TFWs by 45 per cent in 2025 “will weaken our businesses’ ability to meet demand.”

The restaurant industry said more than 21,000 TFWs have worked in Quebec restaurants since 2021 and are now essential to operations. “Without them, restaurants risk closing their doors or, in the lesser-known scenario, reducing their hours,” said Martin Vézina, vice‑president of public and government affairs at the Quebec Restaurant Association.

In construction and industry, employer groups said shortages are already constraining major projects and growth plans, and that skilled immigration through programs like the TFWP and PEQ is needed to meet long‑term labour needs across the province.

Workers Quebec employers will need in the next 5 years