The food and accommodation sector is the largest employer of immigrants and newcomers to Canada. Half of all Canadian restaurants are run by entrepreneurs who came here as immigrants, providing economic, social, and cultural benefits to communities across the country.
There are currently one million open work permitted newcomers in Canada made up of asylum seekers, refugees and international students. Unfortunately, newcomers often face significant barriers to full time Canadian employment and large numbers of them are currently unemployed. The restaurant industry has 78,000 job vacancies across Canada and a solid track record of supporting newcomers. This represents a win-win-win for governments, newcomers and the restaurant industry.
Our Recommendation: Implement a government run program to match open work permit newcomers with opportunity for employment in the restaurant industry.
To learn more about our ask, click here.
Updates, toolkits, letters, and resources addressing today’s immigration policies.
ESDC’s focus on aligning the Foreign Worker Program with public expectations and media transparency has, at times, limited its responsiveness to practical labour market realities. There are straightforward, practical measures that can realign this program to better serve both employers and workers.
Menthe et Couscous
Montréal, QC
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