The Huron Chamber of Commerce says immigration is critical to the future of businesses in the county, and is joining a national initiative to push for long-term solutions.
Reimagining Immigration proposes a new Canadian International Workforce Program, which would create pathways for both seasonal and year-round foreign workers, while also offering stronger protections and quicker processing.
Chamber Executive Director Colin Carmichael says the need is urgent. "Our employers across Huron County are telling us, clearly and consistently, that immigration workers are essential to their businesses. We cannot sustain our local economy without them," he said.
Huron County continues to post one of the lowest unemployment rates in Ontario, leaving employers across sectors like agriculture, health care, hospitality, and manufacturing struggling to fill year-round jobs.
Local businesses say the Temporary Foreign Worker Program has been a short-term solution but was never designed to address permanent vacancies. One employer said eliminating it would be "a devastating blow… stripping us of the skilled and reliable workforce we depend on."
The Chamber argues that without programs like CIWP, labour shortages could worsen, threatening both services and businesses across the region.
