Some prominent local economic voices are rejecting the narrative behind the National Citizens Coalition's "Hire Canadian" campaign, warning that it fails to reflect the labour realities facing communities in Midwestern Ontario.
Colin Carmichael, Executive Director of the Huron Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber issued a formal response because "the labour market in Huron County is very unique."
"In our economic area, which includes Huron, Bruce, Grey and Perth, we have the second-lowest unemployment rate in the province at 3.9 per cent," said Carmichael. "The only area lower is Northwestern Ontario. So we’re looking at the lowest unemployment rate by a wide margin. The provincial average is 7.9 per cent, double what ours is."
Carmichael said national statistics cited by the NCC don’t reflect local conditions, and may actually mislead the public. "One of the most dangerous misconceptions a campaign like this spreads is the old ‘immigrants are taking our jobs’ trope. It just isn’t true in Huron County."
"If people walk into a restaurant and see foreign workers, there’s a risk they’ll wrongly assume those jobs were taken from Canadians. But those workers are often the reason that restaurant can even keep the lights on," he said. "And frankly, many local employers can’t fill those roles with local labour, even after trying."
Justin Dias, Economic Development Officer for Perth County, echoed those concerns, noting the challenge isn’t immigrants replacing local youth, but a lack of available workers in general.
"Our historically low unemployment rate isn’t new, it’s been an issue for years," Dias said. "Employers are trying to find workers, period. It’s not about choosing foreign labour over youth or local residents."
Dias pointed to Perth County’s real-time labour market dashboard, available through the "Work in Perth County" tool, as evidence. "If you see the same job posting month after month, it’s a sign that industry is struggling to find anyone," he said.
Carmichael said many businesses are eager to hire local youth but simply can’t find them in sufficient numbers.
"Our youth participation rate in the workforce is actually higher than the provincial average: 82.9 per cent," he noted. "It’s not that local teenagers aren’t working. It’s that there are fewer of them, and our workforce overall trends older. So there just aren’t enough youth to go around."
He added that many jobs, particularly in fast food, hospitality, and manufacturing, remain unfilled not because youth aren’t applying, but because of sheer workforce shortage.
"I spoke to a fast-food operator here who got ten resumes in a month. His colleague running the same franchise in Kitchener got 700. The labour market just 90 minutes away is a totally different world," said Carmichael.
Both Carmichael and Dias emphasized that local employers generally prefer to hire Canadians when possible.
"It’s more expensive and complicated to hire foreign workers," Carmichael said. "So employers are financially incentivized to hire local talent. But when that talent doesn’t exist, they have no choice."
Dias said the counties are taking proactive steps to address the issue, including hosting an immigration and workforce roundtable in June with MP John Nater and several employers.
"That roundtable will help us hear from businesses directly about what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change," Dias said. "We're always looking at workforce integration, youth retention, and employer support as part of a bigger solution."
He added that regional collaboration has become essential.
"Perth, Huron, Bruce, and Grey all face similar labour issues," he said. "Working together, whether through economic partnerships or wardens’ caucuses, is the only way we’re going to find long-term solutions."
As for the idea that local youth are being overlooked in hiring? Carmichael shared an anecdote from a recent school career day.
"I asked a Grade 10 student who said he couldn’t get a job because of foreign workers. I pressed him, and he couldn’t name a single person he knew who actually couldn’t find work," he said. "There’s work out there. It just might not be your dream job, or in the sector you want. But the jobs are there."