Tim Hortons has announced a major shift in its hiring strategy, launching a national campaign to recruit 10,000 local employees across Canada and reducing its dependence on the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program.
New Hiring Campaign
In a press release on Monday, the restaurant chain declared a new initiative inviting all aspiring team members to apply for positions at Tim Hortons restaurants this summer. This comes on the heels of news that 80 new restaurants will open in Canada this year, alongside renovations of 400 existing locations.
The company emphasized its commitment to hiring locally whenever possible, stating: "This is part of the brand's strong, ongoing commitment to hire locally, whenever possible, in every community we serve."
Shift from Previous Stance
The announcement marks a significant departure from Tim Hortons' previous advocacy for the TFW program. Last year, the company lobbied the federal government to expand the TFW cap, which had been reduced to 10 percent in 2024 amid changing public sentiment toward immigration. During the pandemic, Tim Hortons also campaigned for Ottawa to expand the foreign worker hiring cap due to labour shortages from lockdowns.
However, the TFW program has long been controversial, with allegations of worker abuse by employers. Reports from the National Post and Investigative Journalism Bureau exposed how the system exploits migrant farm workers, subjecting them to health risks, financial exploitation, and physical abuse.
Conservative Party MP Michelle Rempel Garner criticized Tim Hortons' past use of the program in December 2025, stating it "has removed entry-level job opportunities for youth."
Rationale for Change
Addressing its past support, Monday's press release explained: "As Canada emerged from COVID in 2021, there were acute labour shortages across the country. To address this, the government increased access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Tim Hortons was one of the companies encouraging the government to do so at the time to help restaurants facing staffing challenges."
The company added: "In 2026, with high youth unemployment nationally, lobbying for expanded access is no longer necessary. In fact, our restaurant owners' use of the program has already declined steadily since 2024. We will continue to work within the labour frameworks the federal and provincial governments decide are best for Canada."
Duncan Fulton, chief corporate officer of Restaurant Brands, which owns Tim Hortons, told The Globe and Mail: "We have not lobbied the government since last year and we won't be lobbying them on TFWs any time soon given our commitment to hire locally everywhere possible." He added: "At the end of the day, our owners would prefer to hire locally almost 100 percent of the time."
