Tim Hortons lobbied MPs for more temporary foreign workers over last 18 months

For more than a year, Canadian coffee giant Tim Hortons has been pushing the federal government to lift the cap on temporary foreign workers some of its franchisees can hire, CBC News has learned.

The requests occurred over at least 18 months, in writing and in lobbying meetings with officials and MPs, as Canadian views on immigration soured and Ottawa reduced various newcomer streams.

"The food service industry sector was disproportionately hard hit by the pandemic and continues to face unprecedented labour shortages," said a letter addressed to Immigration Minister Marc Miller in May 2024.

The letter was released in response to an access to information request seeking communications between either Tim Hortons, any of its franchisees or parent company Restaurant Brands International