Rural businesses in Manitoba are closely monitoring potential federal immigration adjustments that could impact their ability to address ongoing labor shortages. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently expressed concerns about the sustainability of Canada’s current immigration levels and announced plans to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers while adopting a more targeted immigration strategy. These statements have raised worries among industries struggling to attract skilled workers.
Courtney Matienzo, a talent acquisition specialist at Mazergroup, highlighted the persistent challenges in filling skilled trades jobs, particularly heavy-duty service technician roles in the agricultural sector. Mazergroup, operating machinery dealerships in Manitoba and Saskatchewan with approximately 425 employees, including nine temporary foreign workers, faces prolonged recruitment processes for rural positions, leading to strain on existing staff and slower service delivery.
To address labor gaps, Mazergroup relies partly on the temporary foreign worker program and provincial nomination streams to supplement their workforce. Carney’s government aims to decrease the proportion of temporary foreign workers and international students to less than five percent of the population by the end of 2027, down from a peak of 7.3 percent in 2024.
Employment and Social Development Canada emphasized that the temporary foreign worker program is designed to address temporary labor shortages and not replace long-term workforce strategies. Matienzo expressed concerns that broad reductions in federal immigration programs could negatively impact rural labor markets, emphasizing the importance of ensuring access to skilled workers like heavy-duty service technicians.
The agricultural sector is already facing a labor shortage, with a projected 15 percent gap between labor demand and supply by 2030 according to a November 2024 report. Matienzo emphasized the necessity of immigrant options to address these shortages effectively.
Labor shortages have become a significant challenge for employers in rural areas, as highlighted by Jennifer Ludwig, President of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and Super Thrifty Drugs. Ludwig noted prolonged vacancies for pharmacist roles due to a scarcity of pharmacists in Manitoba and emphasized the success of recruiting international graduates who meet Canadian credentialing standards.
Karen MacDonald, Vice President of People and Culture at Mazergroup, emphasized the detrimental effects of labor shortages on rural communities, particularly farmers. Bureaucratic delays in labor market assessments exacerbate the problem, and MacDonald called for faster approval processes to expedite employee integration.
The City of Brandon is actively working to maintain labor pipelines, with Samuel Solomon, an immigration and workforce development specialist, highlighting the positive impact of programs like the rural and northern immigration pilot and Manitoba provincial nominee program in attracting skilled professionals to the city. Employers seek clarity and assurance that skilled trades will remain a priority in immigration policies to address labor shortages effectively.
Matienzo, studying immigration and citizenship law at Queen’s University, aims to enhance her recruitment strategies for international workers irrespective of potential policy changes. However, she cautioned against altering programs crucial for the agricultural sector, fearing potential panic among current temporary foreign workers if these programs were discontinued.