By Karim Mouldi 

Quebec’s automotive repair and heavy-duty collision repair sectors are facing growing pressure due to tighter regulations surrounding the use of temporary foreign workers. 

The reference wage threshold, set at approximately $34.62/hour, is considered difficult to maintain for many regional SMEs already affected by rising operating costs. Some employers are therefore considering one-year work permits that allow greater wage flexibility, but this solution leads to frequent administrative renewals and weakens workforce stability. 

Stricter Eligibility Requirements 

Eligibility criteria have also become more stringent. While a secondary school diploma was previously sufficient for certain programs, authorities are now increasingly requiring a vocational diploma (DEP) in automotive mechanics. This shift creates a disconnect with the reality in the field, where many experienced workers possess the practical skills employers need without meeting the new academic requirements. 

An Essential Program Becoming More Complex 

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), administered by Service Canada and Quebec’s MIFI, remains essential for addressing labour shortages in the sector. However, employers must now provide more rigorous proof of the absence of local candidates, their recruitment efforts within Canada, wage compliance and detailed justification for the requested positions. This added complexity increases processing times and limits the operational capacity of specialized businesses. 

At the same time, the shortage of qualified labour continues to drive wages upward, forcing businesses to constantly review their compensation structures in order to remain competitive. 

Repair Shops Reorganizing Their Strategies 

In response to this reality, many repair shops are reorganizing their strategies through partnerships with specialized international recruitment firms, improved internal training and gradually onboarding foreign workers to support knowledge transfer and productivity. 

Finding a Sustainable Balance 

The challenge remains finding a balance between regulatory requirements, business competitiveness and the real needs of the market. Reducing dependence on foreign workers may be a legitimate objective, but only if a qualified and available Canadian workforce is ready to fill these specialized positions. 

Picture and text credit : Karim Mouldi