Synopsis: Canada’s 2025 changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program have put skilled welders at risk of deportation. This blog explores the impact on businesses like Airex Industries in Quebec, examines the policy shifts, and outlines solutions to retain critical labor while balancing economic and political objectives.
In May 2025, Canada’s evolving immigration framework left seven skilled welders in Laval, Quebec, facing deportation—despite years of service to their employer, Airex Industries. As strict new rules under the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program kick in, businesses are sounding the alarm over labor shortages, while workers stare down uncertain futures. This blog explores the legal, economic, and human dimensions of the crisis and what it signals for Quebec’s broader immigration trajectory.
What’s Happening to These Canadian Workers in 2025?
Seven employees at Airex Industries, a Laval-based company specializing in pollution control systems, are facing deportation as their closed work permits approach expiry. These workers, including Colombian national Fabian Molano, are essential to the company’s welding operations—yet are now unable to renew their permits under new regulations introduced in November 2024.
Molano expressed the emotional toll in stark terms: “I’m stressed.”
Airex’s president, Tony Vasilakos, emphasized the magnitude of the threat: without these certified welders, production will falter, jeopardizing orders and financial stability.
What Are the New TFW Program Rules in 2025?
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program allows Canadian employers to hire international talent when no suitable local workers are available. However, reforms announced in late 2024 aimed to curtail dependency on foreign labor.
Key Changes:
- Higher Wage Requirements: Employers in regions with over 6% unemployment must offer wages at least 20% higher than the median for that role. In Drummondville, that equates to $33/hour for welders, a significant jump from prior rates.
- Stricter LMIA Protocols: Employers must file a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) proving local hiring is impossible. Applications failing to meet wage thresholds are automatically rejected.
- Local Hiring Priority: These policies align with Ottawa’s target to reduce Canada’s temporary resident population from 7% to 5% by 2026, as outlined in the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan.
While well-intended to protect domestic employment, these measures disregard regional skill mismatches and business realities.
How Are These Changes Impacting Canadian Businesses?
Airex Industries exemplifies the squeeze Canadian companies are under. Relying on seven Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB)-certified welders, the company cannot replace them locally—despite the region’s high unemployment.
“Even though Drummondville has a high unemployment rate, it’s not like I can just find welders here.”
— Tony Vasilakos, President, Airex Industries
Facing either a 20% wage hike or workforce disruption, businesses are caught in a bind. Employers followed federal guidelines years ago—now they’re penalized midstream by shifting rules.
This isn’t an isolated case. Across Quebec, employers in agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare are grappling with TFW-related barriers due to:
- The suspension of low-wage LMIA applications in Montreal and Laval through November 30, 2025
- A February 2025 reduction of eligible occupations for simplified LMIA processing from 267 to just 76 roles
Who Are the Affected Workers?
Among the seven facing deportation, most have lived and worked in Quebec for years. They are more than just employees—they are community members. Workers like Molano, bound to Airex through a closed permit, now face sudden deportation with no alternative.
Their removal would:
- Disrupt business operations
- Sever community ties
- Undermine Canada’s reputation as a fair employer of foreign labor
Such stories humanize the broader immigration debate, reminding policymakers that behind every policy is a person.
Why Are Welders So Hard to Find in Quebec?
The Skilled Trade Gap
Welders, particularly those with CWB certification, are in chronic shortage. Why?
- Specialization: CWB credentials require technical training, not easily replicated.
- Demographics: An aging workforce and reduced interest in trades among youth.
- Mismatch: High unemployment doesn’t mean available skilled labor. Many job seekers in Drummondville lack qualifications for roles like welding.
Despite being designed to prioritize Canadians, the policy overlooks these nuances.
Canadian Apprenticeship Forum report shows that Canada may face a shortage of over 60,000 skilled tradespeople by 2027.
What Are the Broader Impacts of the TFW Changes in Quebec?
A Tighter Immigration Landscape
Quebec’s policies increasingly emphasize cultural protection over economic growth. This includes:
- Suspension of foreign recruitment missions such as Journées Québec, which previously brought in skilled migrants
- Reduction in simplified LMIA occupations
- Halts to PEQ graduate and worker streams until June 30, 2025
Employer Struggles
Organizations like Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ) and the Montreal Chamber of Commerce have issued warnings. CPQ’s Denis Hamel urged leaders to “depoliticize immigration,” while Chamber president Michel Leblanc said, “We’re shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Worker Precarity
Without permanent residency (PR) options, temporary workers risk deportation. Workers in TEER 4 and 5 roles are especially vulnerable, with few eligible PR programs available.
What Can Be Done to Help These Workers?
To stabilize the situation, governments and businesses must collaborate.
1. Revise TFW Rules
Exemptions should apply to industries with persistent shortages, such as welding and manufacturing. Extending existing work permits could provide breathing room for transitions.
2. Reopen PR Pathways
Quebec should restore access to the PEQ’s Temporary Foreign Worker stream for intermediate-skill roles. Federally, programs like the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) should adjust quotas for temporary workers already in Canada.
3. Support Employers
Offer wage subsidies or tax relief to help employers meet new thresholds. Invest in local vocational training to reduce long-term dependence on foreign labor.
4. Advocate Publicly
Workers and employers should share their stories with media and MPs. Groups like the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) can provide legal advocacy and amplify their cause.
How Can Affected Workers Protect Themselves?
If you’re a TFW in Quebec, consider these actions:
- Track your permit expiry: Begin the renewal process 6 months in advance via IRCC
- Explore alternate permits: Consider International Mobility Program (IMP) options that don’t require LMIAs
- Consult a lawyer: Firms like Cohen Immigration Law can guide you through complex applications
- Stay informed: Regularly review Quebec’s immigration site
The Bigger Picture: Quebec’s Immigration Challenges
Quebec’s immigration approach in 2025 is shaped by both cultural preservation and political calculus. But the tightening of immigration screws may come at a high economic cost.
Key Developments:
- Targeted admissions: 48,500–51,500 newcomers planned for 2025, with a cap of 25% per nationality
- Temporary resident cutbacks: Montreal and Laval face a low-wage LMIA freeze until November 30, 2025
- Paused PR pathways: Graduate and worker streams under the PEQ suspended until mid-2025
These policies, while addressing infrastructure and housing pressures, are throttling economic growth in critical sectors.
What Are the New Wage Requirements for Temporary Foreign Workers?
Employers in regions with over 6% unemployment must pay 20% more than the median wage. For Drummondville welders, that’s now $33/hour, up from around $27.50 previously.
Can Affected Workers Apply for Permanent Residency?
through:
- PEQ’s Temporary Foreign Worker Stream
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Relevant Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
However, some streams are paused or limited in scope.
Will the TFW Rules Change Again in 2025?
Possibly. Quebec is expected to unveil a multi-year immigration plan mid-year, which could adjust policies on temporary workers and streamline PR transitions.
Key Takeaways
- Seven skilled welders at Airex Industries face deportation due to new TFW wage and LMIA rules.
- TFW reforms aim to prioritize Canadian hires but ignore regional skill shortages.
- Quebec employers in critical industries are calling for policy flexibility.
- Permanent residency options remain limited, especially for TEER 4 and 5 workers.
- Policy revisions, legal counsel, and advocacy are crucial for those affected.
