Tim Hortons, the iconic Canadian coffee chain, announced on Monday that it will scale back its reliance on the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program and commit to hiring 10,000 local workers as part of its nationwide expansion. The company, which had been nicknamed 'Singh Hortons' due to its heavy use of foreign labor, aims to shift its hiring focus to Canadian residents and those authorized to work in Canada.
Company's Commitment to Local Hiring
Duncan Fulton, chief corporate officer of Restaurant Brands International, Tim Hortons' parent company, stated, '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 emphasized that wages are consistent for all employees, regardless of origin, and that restaurant owners prefer local hiring almost 100% of the time.
Addressing Misconceptions
A company spokesperson clarified that less than 4% of team members were hired through the TFW program, countering public perception. 'Our local hiring campaign is targeting anyone who wants to work at a Tim Hortons who is living in Canada and permitted to work in Canada – our restaurant owners don't discriminate in their hiring, so that could be Canadian students, international students, any member of the community,' the spokesperson said.
Pandemic-Era Dependence
The chain's reliance on foreign labor spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic due to widespread labor shortages. However, Fulton noted that TFW usage has dropped by 50% since 2024 and is now far below pandemic peaks. 'The use of the TFW program amongst owners has gone down by 50 per cent from 2024. It was not the same as 2021, during the pandemic, where there was a real need for foreign labour,' he explained.
Diversity and Misperception
Fulton attributed the misconception about excessive foreign hiring to the diversity of Tim Hortons' workforce, which mirrors Canada's changing demographics. 'Canada's communities have become more diverse and so have our restaurants,' he said. The company reiterated that its owners are committed to local hiring and that the TFW program was used minimally and only when necessary.
The announcement marks a significant shift for Tim Hortons, which had faced criticism and a nickname reflecting its foreign labor dependence. With the new hiring campaign, the chain aims to strengthen its ties to local communities while continuing its expansion across Canada.
