New immigration program designed to address gaps in labour force in Huron County

Public conversations about immigration can often be clouded by myths and misconceptions such as foreign workers take jobs from Canadians, immigration drives housing shortages and employers should just raise wages.

By engaging proactively with reality, unfounded criticism can be prevented, and truth can be reinforced. Immigration is not the problem; it is part of the solution, especially in Huron County.

Reimagining Immigration is a new initiative that has proposed the creation of the Canadian International Workforce Program (CIWP), a program designed to address the persistent and structural gaps in labour force.

Huron Chamber of Commerce is a signatory of Reimaging Immigration, representing rural southwestern Ontario on the national advisory committee.

“Our employers across Huron County are telling us, clearly and consistently, that immigration workers are essential to their businesses,” stressed Colin Carmichael, Executive Director of the Huron Chamber of Commerce.

“We cannot sustain our local economy without them.”

According to Huron Chamber of Commerce, this region has one of the lowest and most persistently low unemployment rates in the province.

For local employers, this can be a sign of economic strength but also represents a pressing challenge. With so few workers available, businesses struggle to recruit and retain staff.

This means restaurants may have to shorten their hours, manufacturers may experience a delay in orders, and hospitals and care facilities remain short-staffed.

Carmichael explains that these gaps hurt not only businesses but also residents who depend on essential services.

Immigration workers in Huron County are the difference between businesses staying open or closing their doors.

This is compounded by the national demographic trends. Canada’s fertility rate has fallen to 1.26, far below the replacement level of 2.1. By 2030, nearly one in four Canadians will be seniors.

With more people retiring than entering the workforce, immigration has become the only source of local market growth for the past 20 years in Canada.

Yet, here in Huron County, there is no surplus of young workers locked out of the labour market. It is quite the opposite.

Huron County does not have enough young people to fill jobs that exist today, let along those as the population ages.

Immigration workers are essential to Huron County’s economy.

The CIWP proposes a more sustainable approach to tackle the lack of workers through two streams: Seasonal and Temporary Jobs, and Year-Round Jobs.

Seasonal jobs are for workers who come to Canada temporarily to fill low-skilled jobs tied to seasonal cycles, such as agriculture. These workers would return home when the season ends.

Year-round jobs are for jobs that are consistently vacant year after year and known to be unattractive to Canadian or permanent resident workers.

This stream would integrate pathways to permanent residence for foreign workers, recognizing the ongoing need for these positions.

These two streams would provide certainty for employers and clear protections and pathways for workers. Through this program, CIWP aims to replace the inadequate stopgaps of the past with a fair, demand-driven system.

Moreover, a recent Abacus Data poll shows how politically charged this issue has become.

According to the survey, of those who participated, 44 per cent of Canadians support eliminating the Temporary Foreign Worker Program altogether, while only 30 per cent oppose the idea and 18 per cent remain undecided.

These results from the survey reflect public concern, but do not reflect Huron County’s reality.

For some Canadians, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) symbolizes an economy that is unfair or tilted against them.

In Huron County, the situation is reversed. There aren’t enough workers to fill local jobs, and there is no hidden pool of unemployed youth waiting for an opportunity.

According to Carmichael, eliminating the TFWP or failing to replace it with a program like CIWP, would leave gaping holes in the local economy.

The CIWP aims to protect the rights and well-being of foreign workers. Too often, critics of immigration point to stories of exploitation as a reason to scale back foreign worker programs.

The CIWP would strengthen safeguards, including stricter regulation ensuring legitimate job postings, and enhanced inspections of employers.

Workers could also benefit from certainty in pathways to permanent residency, giving them confidence that their contributions to the Canadian economy can translate into long-term opportunity.

This kind of stability reduces turnovers for employers and allows for stronger workforce planning while aiding in the elimination of myths on immigration workers taking jobs or driving housing shortages.

Immigration workers are not taking jobs from Canadians. Every position must pass a rigorous process through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) proving that no Canadian or permanent resident is available.

Canada’s housing challenges stem from regulatory delays, construction coasts and lack of serviced land; not from immigrants.

Temporary Foreign Workers represent fewer than one per cent of Canada’s total labour force.

Carmichael adds that the Huron Chamber of Commerce has always been a strong advocate for smart, responsive immigration policy.

The Chamber’s participation in the Reimagining Immigration initiative builds on this advocacy, while ensuring that Huron County’s unique perspective is included in conversations that will shape national policy.

Carmichael believes the CIWP is not just a national policy idea, but also a lifeline for Huron County.

“Workforce shortages are already constraining local businesses and without a long-term solution, the prosperity of our towns and villages is at risk,” wrote Carmichael.

“A fair and sustainable immigration system will allow employers to plan, services to remain accessible and communities to grow stronger.”

For more information visit https://huronchamber.ca