{"id":2632,"date":"2025-05-15T14:18:44","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T18:18:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=2632"},"modified":"2025-05-15T14:18:46","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T18:18:46","slug":"skilled-workers-in-quebec-face-deportation-amid-tfw-rule-changes-a-crisis-for-employers-and-families","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=2632","title":{"rendered":"Skilled Workers in Quebec Face Deportation Amid TFW Rule Changes: A Crisis for Employers and Families"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Laval, Quebec<\/strong> \u2014 A group of seven certified welders employed by a long-standing Quebec manufacturing firm are facing potential deportation due to sudden policy changes in Canada\u2019s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, sparking alarm across industries dependent on skilled international talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"> <strong>What\u2019s the Issue? Skilled Welders Facing Removal from Canada<\/strong><\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Seven employees at <strong>Airex Industries<\/strong>, a pollution control systems manufacturer in <strong>Laval<\/strong>, have been thrust into legal limbo. Their work permits are close to expiring, and their applications for renewal are no longer eligible under <strong>new federal rules<\/strong> that took effect in <strong>November 2024<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The employer, a company operating since <strong>1975<\/strong> and employing nearly 90 workers, is warning of <strong>severe disruptions to production<\/strong> if the skilled welders are deported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"><strong>What Changed in the TFW Program in 2025?<\/strong><\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In November 2024, the Canadian government revised TFW Program guidelines to <strong>prioritize local hiring<\/strong>\u2014especially in regions with <strong>6% or higher unemployment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key new rules include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Wage Hike Requirement<\/strong>: Employers must now pay <strong>at least 20% more<\/strong> than the regional median wage to TFWs. In <strong>Drummondville<\/strong>, near Laval, this means <strong>$33\/hour for welders<\/strong>\u2014a sharp increase.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tighter LMIA Standards<\/strong>: Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) now face <strong>stricter scrutiny<\/strong>. Without meeting wage thresholds or justifying labor shortages, employers face <strong>automatic rejections<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Policy Shift Goal<\/strong>: Reduce the temporary resident population from <strong>7% to 5%<\/strong> by <strong>2026<\/strong>, as outlined in Canada\u2019s 2025\u20132027 Immigration Levels Plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"><strong>Impact on Quebec\u2019s Employers: Business at Risk<\/strong><\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Airex Industries&#8217; president, <strong>Tony Vasilakos<\/strong>, expressed frustration, explaining that these foreign workers are not easily replaceable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not just about filling a job. These are <strong>CWB-certified welders<\/strong>, trained for specific tasks. We\u2019re not finding local candidates with that level of qualification,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Like Airex, many Quebec companies in <strong>manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare<\/strong> depend on temporary foreign workers to fill gaps that <strong>local labor can\u2019t cover<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent immigration policy updates have compounded this issue:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Suspension of low-wage LMIA applications in <strong>Montreal and Laval<\/strong> until <strong>November 30, 2025<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduced number of eligible occupations for <strong>simplified LMIA processing<\/strong> from <strong>267 to 76<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"> <strong>Who Are the Workers Affected?<\/strong><\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Among those facing deportation is <strong>Fabian Molano<\/strong>, a welder from Colombia, employed under a <strong>closed work permit<\/strong> that ties him to Airex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m stressed. I\u2019ve built a life here. My job, my friends, my future are all in Canada,\u201d said Molano.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>These individuals are <strong>not newcomers<\/strong>\u2014they are deeply embedded in their communities and critical to their workplace operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"> <strong>Why Quebec Can\u2019t Just Hire Locally<\/strong><\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite higher unemployment rates in some regions, Quebec faces <strong>a skill mismatch<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Welding is a specialized trade<\/strong>, requiring <strong>Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB)<\/strong> certification.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An <strong>aging workforce<\/strong> and <strong>decline in vocational trade interest<\/strong> among youth have deepened the shortage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many unemployed locals <strong>do not possess the necessary credentials<\/strong> to fill skilled roles like welding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Wider Implications for Quebec\u2019s Immigration Policy<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The current TFW restrictions are part of a broader immigration tightening across Quebec:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Recruitment missions suspended<\/strong> until mid-2025 (e.g., Journ\u00e9es Qu\u00e9bec)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key pathways to permanent residency closed<\/strong> (PEQ Graduate and Skilled Worker streams suspended until <strong>June 30, 2025<\/strong>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>25% country cap<\/strong> on skilled worker invitations until <strong>October 9, 2025<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Michel Leblanc, President of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, warns:<br>\u201cWe\u2019re undoing years of progress in skilled worker recruitment. These policy shifts are short-sighted.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">What Can Be Done? Pathways and Potential Solutions<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"> <strong>Immediate Actions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Exemptions for sectors<\/strong> with proven shortages (like certified welding)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Extension of work permits<\/strong> for current TFWs until alternate options are viable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reinstatement of PEQ<\/strong> for temporary workers already contributing in Quebec<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"> <strong>Long-Term Solutions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Government subsidies<\/strong> to help employers meet new wage benchmarks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Vocational training programs<\/strong> to upskill Canadian workers for trades in demand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Increased PR quotas<\/strong> for temporary workers under programs like <strong>CEC<\/strong> or <strong>Provincial Nominee Programs<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"> <strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">How Affected Workers Can Respond<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a TFW in a similar position:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Check your permit expiry<\/strong> and begin renewal processes <strong>at least 6 months in advance<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consult immigration professionals<\/strong> for options like <strong>International Mobility Program<\/strong>, LMIA-exempt pathways, or alternate PR streams<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Work closely with employers<\/strong> to build a case or secure higher-wage offers that meet new criteria<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"> <strong>What\u2019s at Stake? Quebec\u2019s Economy<\/strong><\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The loss of skilled TFWs could result in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reduced productivity<\/strong> and supply chain delays<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Increased business costs<\/strong> due to rehiring and retraining<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Slower innovation<\/strong> in trades-dependent industries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>As Denis Hamel of the Conseil du patronat du Qu\u00e9bec warned,<br>\u201cWe need to depoliticize immigration and address real labor needs.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-vivid-red-background-color has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size\">For a <strong> consultation<\/strong> about Immigration options, reach out to the <strong>CAD IMMIGRATION <\/strong>today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cadimmigration\/profilecard\/?igsh=aWYzamtvMzlvZHUy\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#fffffa;background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(135,9,53) 0%,rgb(179,22,22) 100%)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">INSTAGRAM<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@cad_immigration?_t=8rYlOtSiktj&amp;_r=1\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#fffffa;background:linear-gradient(317deg,rgb(135,9,53) 0%,rgb(179,22,22) 100%)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TIKTOK<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/cad-immigration\/\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#fffffa;background:linear-gradient(42deg,rgb(135,9,53) 0%,rgb(179,22,22) 100%)\">LINKEDIN<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Laval, Quebec \u2014 A group of seven certified welders employed by a long-standing Quebec manufacturing firm are facing potential deportation due to sudden policy changes in Canada\u2019s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, sparking alarm across industries dependent on skilled international talent. What\u2019s the Issue? Skilled Welders Facing Removal from Canada Seven employees at Airex Industries, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":2633,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[79,83,49,3,78,76,77,57,70,36,258],"class_list":["post-2632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cicnews","tag-cad-immigration","tag-cad-immigration-news","tag-cadimmigration","tag-canadaimmigration","tag-immigration-canada","tag-immigration-new-rules","tag-immigration-new-updates","tag-immigration-trend","tag-immigration-updates-canada","tag-immigrationupdates","tag-quebec-faces-deportation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2632"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2634,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632\/revisions\/2634"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2632"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2632"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}