Restaurants in Quebec are facing an uphill battle to keep their doors open amidst a worsening staff shortage issue. The predicament, according to many in the industry, is being attributed to restrictions imposed by the federal government on hiring low-wage temporary foreign workers.
Last year, the federal government placed a 10 per cent cap on the number of temporary foreign workers a company can employ. This restriction has left numerous restaurant owners in Quebec concerned, with warnings that they may soon have to cut back operating hours or even shut down.
At Kwizinn, a Caribbean restaurant located in Montreal’s Old Port, around 20 per cent of the staff are or were temporary foreign workers. Chef Céline Diallo emphasized the importance of these hires in providing much-needed stability for the business to thrive and expand.
Diallo expressed the challenges faced by restaurant owners in hiring workers from immigrant backgrounds, stressing the need for a more accessible and flexible system to address the looming labor shortage in the industry.
The Quebec Association Restauration Québec (ARQ) has urged the provincial government to negotiate with Ottawa to raise the cap on temporary foreign workers in the tourism sector from 10 per cent back to 30 per cent. This move is deemed crucial in sustaining the profitability of businesses in the region.
As discussions on new immigration targets for Quebec from 2026 to 2029 unfold, concerns are raised about finding a balance between business needs and political commitments. The potential impact of tighter restrictions on small restaurants like Kwizinn is worrisome, as they struggle to meet demand and maintain a harmonious work environment for their staff.
Keyphrase: Quebec restaurant labor shortage
