Beauce’s manufacturing sector sounds the alarm over new measures limiting the use of temporary immigrant workers

While the region is still struggling with a very low unemployment rate, the Beauce Immigration Strategy Table made a public outing Monday morning to raise awareness of its concerns about the manufacturing sector following recent measures to reduce temporary immigration, and it demands solutions adapted to its reality.

Both the federal and provincial governments have recently implemented measures to restrict immigration. The Prime Minister of Quebec, François Legault, continues to call for a reduction in the number of temporary foreign workers.

“The threshold of 10% of the number of immigrant workers that a company could hire rose to 20% two or three years ago for us and to 30% for certain regions. But in September the federal government reduced that to 10%,” recalls Gaétan Vachon, mayor of Sainte-Marie, prefect of the MRC of La Nouvelle-Beauce, member of the Table.

“The impact is that businesses have paid to bring in and train immigrants. They don’t want to lose them to respect the ratio. When we make such changes, we must have acceptable deadlines and consult local stakeholders,” insists Mr. Vachon.

Full employment

If the unemployment rate in Quebec is 5.8%, the situation is very different in Beauce and Chaudière-Appalaches.

“It’s at 2.8%. We understand that the two levels of government are setting rules for the entire province, but we are asking them for an exemption for regions with unemployment of 4% or less. We also have to think about the baby boomers who are going to retire. It creates huge holes,” said Mr. Vachon.

“We have been experiencing a labor shortage since 2011. In 2014 we started doing missions in Montreal and recruiting internationally. Our active population is decreasing from year to year while our economy is flourishing,” adds Hélène Latulippe, general director of the Beauce Economic Council.

This organization surveyed companies in the manufacturing sector regarding their needs for foreign labor.

“Half of the 107 companies that responded told us that they had more than 10% immigrant workers. So 53 companies which will have to let go of workers,” relates M^me Latulippe.

“One company told us they had four too many workers compared to the new ratio. These workers are on the evening shift and if the company has to get rid of them, it will mean the closure of the evening shift and the loss of eight other jobs for Quebecers,” she adds.

Outsource work

Even the few hundred job losses expected this year would not be enough to fuel the job market.

“The impact is minor, when Olymel [Vallée-Jonction] closed, all the workers were relocated and a good part in our region. It was a plaster because we would have had to bring in more immigrants,” explains Gaétan Vachon.

“We do not want to alarm the population,” continues the prefect, “but employers have told us that if this continues, they will have to consider having their work done elsewhere. It’s dangerous. There is a start, but we don’t know where it will stop next.”

The basis on which immigrant workers will no longer be able to apply for permits is also a source of concern.

“Other companies told us that it is the employees who have been here for three years that they will have to let go of,” says M.^me Latulippe. Because they have to renew their work permits and they would be refused. They are their most experienced, integrated, French-speaking workers, their wife works in a restaurant, the children are at school and they are not in our social safety net.”

The broken chain

M^me Latulippe also highlights an incongruity of the new measures.

“Currently, the construction sector is excluded from the new measures. But the material manufacturers are not, even though they are at the base of the chain. The government wants to speed up housing construction, but that also requires doors, windows and flooring. Construction inputs should also benefit from a special pass.”

“The need for immigration is decreasing, that’s good news, but we still have a crucial need to use it. Other regions experiencing the same problem have contacted us. We think this is the start of a movement,” concludes Hélène Latulippe.

Immigration in Beauce*

• 1734 TFWs**, of which 749 (43%) arrived in the last 12 months
• 241 workers brought their families over in the last 12 months
• 33% of TETs recruited in Africa in the last year, compared to 26% two years ago
• International recruitment expected to stabilize over the next 18 months, with 501 new TFWs expected

*Industrial sector excluding seasonal agricultural and health workers

**TET: temporary foreign workers

Source: Portrait of current and future immigration in Beauce 2024-2025