Maple News reports that the Government of Quebec has announced a major expansion of its pathway for hiring temporary foreign workers, aiming to ease critical labour shortages affecting multiple sectors across the province.
As of November 2, Quebec introduced over 30 new job titles eligible for streamlined processing under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The announcement was made by Jean Boulet, Quebec’s Minister of Labour and interim Minister of Immigration. These changes result from consultations with industry stakeholders and are part of a broader agreement reached with the federal government in August to make it easier to recruit lower-skilled workers from abroad.
Key sectors targeted by the new measures include retail, hospitality, food services, and food processing—areas that have been particularly hard-hit by the staffing crisis. The sectors will benefit from simplified requirements to hire foreign workers, such as reduced advertising obligations for roles like cashiers, counter attendants, and housekeeping staff.
Furthermore, businesses in designated sectors will be allowed to fill up to 20% of their workforce with temporary foreign labour. Previously, the cap was set at 10%. The aim is to offer immediate relief to employers who have struggled for months to fill jobs crucial to daily operations and economic activity.
“These adjustments reflect a strong consensus from Quebec’s labour market partners and are designed to facilitate the hiring of foreign workers,” Minister Boulet said in an official statement. He emphasized that while the measures won’t resolve the entire labour shortfall, they will provide companies with the necessary workforce to maintain productivity.
The measures are pending final approval from the federal government, which, if granted, would make the changes effective until the end of December 2023. Business leaders across the province, including those in manufacturing and services, have urged the federal government to expedite the approval process to allow immediate implementation.
Karl Blackburn, President and CEO of the Conseil du patronat du Québec, welcomed the changes but called for deeper reforms to the overall program. “Today’s relaxations will greatly enhance the flexibility and usability of the TFWP. However, the next step must be a full revision of this federal program to adapt it to the realities of our labour market.”
Labour shortages in Quebec are a longstanding issue that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting greater pressure on businesses and resulting in widespread hiring challenges. Quebec has been actively negotiating with federal authorities to modernize immigration processes, making it easier and faster to bring in much-needed international talent.
The provincial government says that these efforts not only aim to simplify hiring procedures, but also to give businesses across Quebec a competitive edge in an increasingly tight labour market.
With federal approval expected within weeks, the new policy framework could soon become a cornerstone of Quebec’s workforce strategy.