Rafael @Questjobs By Rafael @Questjobs · Dec 05, 2025

Tim Hortons wants More Temporary Foreign Workers and Faster Visa Renewals. Here's How to Find Tim Hortons Jobs.

Tim Hortons wants More Temporary Foreign Workers and Faster Visa Renewals. Here's How to Find Tim Hortons Jobs.
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Tim Hortons’ push on temporary foreign worker rules: what changed, who met whom, and why it matters

Key points

  • Over the past 18 months, Tim Hortons and parent company RBI held multiple meetings with federal officials and MPs from several parties to discuss temporary foreign worker (TFW) policy.

  • A letter released through access-to-information shows the company previously asked Ottawa to raise the TFW cap from 20% to 30% per workplace (Ottawa had temporarily allowed higher usage during COVID).

  • In 2024, the federal government reduced the general TFW cap to 10%, tightening access compared to the pandemic period.

  • Company reps also pressed for faster work-permit renewals and clearer pathways for workers already in Canada—especially in rural and smaller communities facing persistent labour gaps.

  • Political reactions split: some MPs argue the program suppresses entry-level wages; others say employers should first improve pay and conditions or target Canadians. The government says the program is under ongoing review.

What Tim Hortons asked for

  • Higher cap (then): Earlier correspondence urged Ottawa to go beyond the pandemic-era 20% ceiling to 30% TFWs at the site level.

  • Faster extensions (now): The company sought quicker renewals for employees already here so stores aren’t left short-staffed while LMIAs and work-permit extensions are processed.

  • Flexibility in rural areas: They argue smaller communities face acute hiring shortages, and that keeping experienced workers longer—or providing clearer PR pathways—would stabilize operations.

Who they met

According to federal lobbying disclosures, Tim Hortons/RBI representatives met with MPs from the governing Liberals, the Conservatives, and the Bloc Québécois, as well as staff from several federal departments and the Prime Minister’s Office. The agenda centered on caps, processing timelines, and labour shortages.

The policy backdrop

  • Pandemic exception: In 2021, Ottawa temporarily allowed higher TFW usage to keep essential businesses staffed.

  • Tightening in 2024: The federal cap was later dialed back to 10%, part of a broader effort to cool reliance on temporary programs and address pressure on housing, health services, and public sentiment.

  • Program integrity: Departments say TFW rules are regularly adjusted to reflect labour-market realities and maintain program integrity.

Reactions on the Hill

  • Skeptical voices argue that fast-food chains should first raise wages and improve scheduling before turning to the TFW program, and some want the program significantly reduced or scrapped.

  • Others accept there are real shortages—particularly outside big cities—and support pragmatic flexibility paired with better protections, faster processing, and clearer transitions to PR for workers who meet standards.

The company’s current stance

Tim Hortons says it’s not pursuing a “permanent foreign worker” program and is instead focused on short-term flexibility, training investments (often with industry groups), and safer workplaces, noting most employees are hired locally and reporting an increase in harassment toward staff.

Tim Hortons Jobs: 

Supervisor | Compass Group | https://questjobs.io/pr-pathway/alberta-opportunity-stream/tim-hortons-supervisor?jobTitle=tim+hortons

Attendant | Tim Hortons | https://questjobs.io/pr-pathway/rural-and-francophone-community-immigration/tim-hortons-food-counter-attendant?jobTitle=tim+hortons

Team Member | D2D Rest. | https://questjobs.io/pr-pathway/atlantic-immigration-program/tim-hortons-team-member-1?jobTitle=tim+hortons

Supervisor | Tim Hortons | https://questjobs.io/pr-pathway/rural-and-francophone-community-immigration/supervisor-tim-hortons-hawker-rd?jobTitle=tim+hortons

What this means for workers and employers (QuestJobs POV)

For employers (especially in rural/small markets):

  • Expect tighter caps to remain—plan staffing around domestic recruitment first, then evidence-based LMIA where truly justified.

  • If you rely on TFWs, build a PR-aligned pathway: stable hours, market-rate wages, authentic duties mapped to the correct NOC, plus real support for settlement. That’s how you retain talent and withstand scrutiny.

For workers on TFW/LMIA pathways:

  • Keep paperwork current and organized (contracts, pay stubs, job descriptions, references).

  • Where eligible, pivot toward PR-enabling routes—Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), CEC, or employer-linked streams—so you’re not stuck cycling through extensions.

  • Rural roles can offer faster traction if the employer meets wage and compliance tests.

Bottom line

The file isn’t about one brand—it’s about how Canada balances labour shortages, worker protections, and pathways to permanence. Caps tightened in 2024, and Ottawa signals more targeted use of temporary streams. Employers who pay fairly, comply rigorously, and sponsor toward PR will remain competitive. Workers who align their roles to PR pathways will have the strongest footing.