Residency permit expirations and wage rules challenge small firms; CFIB calls for policy review to support employers
Canada’s recent adjustments to permanent immigration levels and the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program have left many small business owners struggling.
According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the rush to make massive changes has generated concern among employers who rely on foreign workers to fill critical roles.
CFIB reports that small business owners feel it is entirely appropriate to turn the immigration dial up or down based on the needs in the labour market, but caution that huge swings hold significant implications for employers, workers, and the economy.
CFIB has received numerous calls from worried business owners, some of whom are “heartbroken to have to say goodbye to their foreign workers who are already in Canada and whose visas are soon to expire.”
New wage level requirements for skilled temporary workers also place small businesses under financial strain, with many employers expressing that the requirements do not reflect the reality of a small business and will jeopardize their survival.
Additionally, limiting access to lower-skilled TFWs is expected to impact these firms’ ability to build essential teams.
Reducing permanent immigration is also raising concerns. While Canada’s unemployment rate has recently increased, there are still 379,000 persistent vacancies in the private sector.
As CFIB President Dan Kelly points out, despite housing pressures, Canada’s demographics indicate that without immigration, maintaining a strong workforce will become increasingly difficult.
Kelly urges policymakers to “rethink many of these recent changes and be ready to turn the dial back up whenever and wherever needed.”
