Quebec's senior residences (RPA) are facing a growing labor crisis as federal rules on temporary foreign workers (TFW) become more restrictive. The sector, which employs thousands of orderlies and support staff, depends significantly on TFWs to fill positions that are hard to staff locally.
According to industry representatives, the new regulations, which include stricter caps on the proportion of TFWs an employer can hire and increased paperwork, have made it harder for residences to recruit and retain workers. This comes at a time when the province's aging population is increasing demand for care.
Data from the Quebec government indicates that over 200,000 seniors live in private residences, and the sector employs more than 40,000 workers. A significant portion of these workers are temporary foreign residents, particularly in regions like Montreal and the Laurentians.
Industry groups, such as the Quebec Federation of Senior Residences (FQRA), have called on the federal government to ease restrictions, arguing that without these workers, some residences may have to reduce services or close units. They also highlight that the situation is exacerbated by a provincial shortage of healthcare workers.
In response, federal officials have stated that the TFW program is designed to be a last resort for employers and that they are working to balance labor needs with protections for Canadian workers. However, the sector warns that without immediate action, the quality of care for seniors could decline.
