Tim Hortons is pledging to reduce its reliance on the temporary foreign worker program and hire 10,000 local employees across Canada.
The coffee chain began using the temporary foreign worker program during the COVID-19 pandemic to address labour shortages and have continued to rely on it.
Eastern Ontario MP Michael Barrett welcomed the announcement, noting that he and his colleagues have been advocating for a major scaling back and redesign of the temporary foreign worker program for years.
Barrett said many businesses became dependent on the temporary foreign worker program after the pandemic, but added they now need to adapt to changing labour market conditions.
He said Tim Hortons was his first job and called the company’s hiring commitment a great start.
Statistics Canada says the youth unemployment rate stood at 14.3 per cent in April 2026, about double the national average.
Tim Hortons says its local hiring campaign will continue throughout 2026 as it works to fill positions in communities across the country.
Story by Evan Gibb
