Tim Hortons commits to 10,000 local hires, reducing temporary foreign workforce

Tim Hortons restaurants owners' use of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program has already declined steadily since 2024, it said. Photo by Bing Guan/Bloomberg files

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Tim Hortons is planning to hire 10,000 new workers locally across its restaurants in Canada as the company reduces its reliance on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), it said.

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The coffee chain on Monday launched a new hiring campaign, which follows its announcement last week that it plans to open 80 new restaurants within the year.

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“This is part of the brand’s strong, ongoing commitment to hire locally, whenever possible, in every community we serve,” it said in a press release.

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Tim Hortons is the largest restaurant chain in the country, with 4,000 locations, which amounts to more restaurants per capita than any other brand worldwide, according to the company.

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The chain has been lobbying the government to increase access to the TFWP amid acute labour shortages.

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“However, today in 2026, with high youth unemployment nationally, lobbying for expanded access is no longer necessary,” it said.

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Tim Hortons restaurants owners’ use of the program has already declined steadily since 2024, it said.

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Out of about 110,000 employees across its system, roughly 4,000 hold positions under the program, representing approximately 3.6 per cent of all of its restaurant workers, it added.

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“These are positions in communities where restaurant owners faced documented labour shortages and went through the full government approval process before hiring,” the company said. “Restaurant owners understand the need for continued rigour and scrutiny for any new temporary foreign worker applications.”

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The chain said its restaurants are a leading employer of youth, with about 45 per cent of its employees are between the ages 15 and 24.

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Its restaurants held local hiring events in March and April and will continue throughout 2026, it said.

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It said that anyone entitled to work in Canada is welcome to work at their restaurants, including Canadian students, international students, people with disabilities, mature workers, Indigenous people new Canadians and members of the local community of all ages — “always with the aim to hire locally every time they can.”

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On Friday, the chain announced that a total of $400 million will be used to build or renovate 480 new and existing restaurants. Out of its 1,500 restaurant owners who own and operate 4,000 locations across Canada, 280 are renovating 400 restaurants and 60 are building 80 new restaurants within the year.

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