Tim Hortons abandons hiring of temporary foreigners amid competition, Conservative criticism

by Anthony Murdoch

With American rival Dunkin coming to Canada, Tim Hortons is ramping up its efforts to hire local workers over temporary immigrants.

(LifeSiteNews) — Canadian doughnut and coffee giant Tim Hortons says it will now hire 10,000 local Canadian workers instead of temporary immigrants from mainly Asia in response to criticism after rival Dunkin plans to expand into Canada and hire locals.

Tim Hortons has now hosted 400 local hiring events over the past two months, with more to come, according to a press release.

The Canadian chain currently employs approximately 4,000 temporary workers among 110,000 associates nationwide.

Canada’s temporary foreign worker program has been riddled with scandals and accusations that have left Canadians without jobs, favoring immigrant workers instead.

Tim Hortons now says a labor shortage is no longer an issue. “With high youth unemployment nationally, lobbying for expanded access is no longer necessary,” the company said.

“In fact, our restaurant owners’ use of the program has already declined steadily since 2024,” the doughnut chain claimed.

The Conservative Party has been a vocal critic of the temporary worker program, which has been around since the 1970s,, saying, “Companies like Tim Hortons, the once beloved coffee shop that gave a first paycheque to countless Canadian teens, have hired an almost unimaginable number of TFWs – 1,131 percent more for Tim Hortons over just four years alone.”

Tim Hortons has in the past defended its use of temporary workers, but with rival Dunkin coming to Canada in full force soon, it has no choice but to return to its Canadian roots.

The records show that Tim Hortons was a staunch proponent and lobbyist of Canada’s temporary workers program and even worked with Liberal MPs on occasion.