Karim Mouldi, founder and president of Canari Recrutement International, runs a firm specializing in the recruitment of qualified workers for the automotive industry. Since its inception in 2013, Canari has enabled Quebec companies to hire more than 1,000 foreign workers in fields such as bodywork, mechanics, painting and automotive expertise. Through its rigorous approach to evaluating candidates, the firm has built a solid bridge between the needs of employers and the talent available. 

Quebec’s labour market is currently going through an unprecedented crisis. Early retirements, combined with a persistent shortage of new talent, are seriously weakening the province’s dealerships and shops. Employers are struggling to find Canadian workers with the necessary technical skills and experience. This situation is creating a major imbalance that slows down productivity, growth and, in some cases, the very survival of certain businesses, particularly outside Montreal. 

In this context, international recruitment remains a concrete and essential solution. Yet, recent regulations complicate the process even further. The new minimum hourly rate of $34.62, imposed on high-wage positions, particularly in Quebec’s major cities, as well as the 10% payroll cap for low-wage workers (valid for one year only), shows a blatant lack of understanding of the current labour market. These measures, while well-meaning, hinder employers’ ability to attract and retain the skilled workers they urgently need. 

Needless to say, training subsidies and other government incentives are not adapted to the labour shortage. Quebec must adapt its policies to the economic reality of businesses and recognize the importance of international recruitment for the survival of several sectors. 

We must act now. Employers and associations must make their voices heard by their MNAs to demand realistic and sustainable solutions adapted to today’s labour market.