Huron County Council recently heard from the local business community about the impact of last year's changes to Temporary Foreign Worker program.
The Huron County Chamber of Commerce brought a delegation to council on Wednesday, saying that businesses were losing out on potential employees, particularly in the hospitality industry.
Last year, the federal government reduced the proportion of low-wage temporary foreign workers that Canadian employers could hire from 20 per cent to 10 per cent.
While there were some exemptions granted for agriculture, discussions at the Chamber's Local Impact Briefing series showed members have lost several staff due to the regulation changes.
Executive Director Colin Carmichael acknowledged that while this is largely a federal issue that can't be addressed until after the election, there is something County Council can advocate for at the provincial level.
"Where there is an opportunity is this provincial program: Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot," he said. "It is currently running in four communities across Ontario. Huron County is obviously not one of them, and we would like it to be. It also currently will end at the end of 2025, so the Chamber has already asked Minister Lisa Thompson and Minister Dave Piccini to expand this program so Huron County will have a chance to participate."
The REDI pilot operates in Lanark County, Leeds and Grenville, Sarnia-Lambton and Thunder Bay. It offers a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers with a job offer who want to live and work in a pilot community.
As part of the request, business owners shared stories of employees that have been impacted by these TFW changes, like a husband and wife who became manager and assistant managers of a local Tim Hortons, but had their Permanent Residency application declined with little recourse to appeal.
Dan Moynihan, the owner of several local Tim Hortons, says they need the county's help to retain team members.
"We're not asking for more international talent, we'd just like to be able to maintain those that we've invested in, that have integrated in the communities, are paying taxes... these are individuals, their kids are in our schools, they're volunteering, participating in our local churches. We just want to be able to keep who we have and your partnership and advocacy in that would be very much appreciated," he said.
The region consistently faces labour shortages, having one of the lowest unemployment rates in the province.
Members of council were receptive to the plea, with Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan saying there needs to be more public education on the impact of foreign workers.
"The story that (Moynihan) told, about getting in all those applications and you went through the first 25 and they weren't even adequate, even though you were looking at local residents," said MacLellan. "The unfortunate part is that as true as those statements may be, the general public doesn't look at it that way. They only hear one side of the story where, Johnny went to get a job and he got turned down and somebody else got it and they're upset and that's the word that gets through the community. That's the part that needs to change."
While council was supportive of the ask, it requested a staff report to come back on the matter before sending a letter to Minister Thompson. The report will return at a future council meeting.