During the COVID-19 pandemic, significant numbers of workers in the tourism and hospitality sector left to avoid the sector’s job instability in the wake of repeated lockdowns and a drop in visitor numbers. Many of the students of hospitality and tourism management programs are international students but not entering the sector in favour of jobs that receive fast-track approval for their immigration status. The sector needs to ensure their future workforce by keeping these graduates in the sector.

Advanced technologies such as automation, digitization, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and the increasing globalization of the economy, combined with an aging population, are redefining the employment landscape. In this changing labour market, increasing emphasis is being placed on the quality and skills of the workforce. The key to ensuring everyone’s participation in our economy is to develop and enhance their skills throughout their working lives, ensuring that they are in line with business needs.

In short, to sustain its prosperity, Canada will need greater skills than those currently available.

The temporary measure implemented in 2022, which allowed international students to work over 20 hours per week, has proven to be a remarkable success, bringing substantial economic and social benefits to communities across the country. This policy has been a pivotal factor in addressing labor shortages, particularly in sectors where it is traditionally challenging to attract workers. Many of these students will want to stay and work in Canada after graduation. The decision to introduce a new 24-hour cap on International Students during the school term will hurt employers who rely on them and create a financial burden on students who rely on this income, forcing some of them to work illegally and risk unsafe workplaces and unfair wages.

Canada is experiencing labour shortages in different industry sectors which are adversely
impacting businesses and the overall economy by limiting operations and growth. The federal
government should increase Canada’s Worker Benefit.

Immigration is an integral part of Canada’s continued economic growth. Our aging demographic, and lack of children being born, are set to leave Canada’s economy desperately short of workers in the decades to come. Immigration will play a vital role in filling this labour gap, and we need to fund the programs that bring newcomers in. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada should provide sustainable funding and it needs to communicate clearly and provide stability so these programs can plan appropriately.

The agri-food industry is an economic driver for Canada, contributing to the national GDP as well as ensuring that the supply chain is maintained, and our people are fed.

However, labour shortages have plagued the industry. These shortages could be partially solved using the existing Temporary Foreign Workers program, however the TFW program has come under attack in recent years, leading to unease on the part of industry.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that international students will be able to work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week starting in September 2024. The Federal government temporarily waived the previous 20-hour cap on work hours for international students during the COVID-19 pandemic to ease labour shortages, that waiver expired Tuesday, May 24, 2024.

Quote: “Canada’s rules need to be aligned or we will find our programs attracting more and more applicants whose primary intent is to work and not studying,”
-Minister Miller. {1}

Canada is fed by its farmers. With nearly 190,000 farms across the country, seasonal farm workers from other countries are a critical resource for produce and food production. While Employment Insurance premiums are collected on behalf of Temporary Foreign Workers on closed work permits, these workers are typically ineligible to collect benefits. This unfairly burdens employers and workers with premiums for insurance that is nearly uncollectable.