ManitobaPrime Minister Mark Carney has said he plans to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers and implement a more “focused” approach to immigration policies. That’s raised conerns in rural Manitoba communities, where employers already face recruitment challenges.Employers want clarity after Carney promises to scale back temporary foreign workers, more ‘focused’ approachChelsea Kemp · CBC News · Posted: Oct 06, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 32 minutes agoCourtney Matienzo, a talent acquisition specialist with the Brandon-based machinery dealership business Mazergroup, says filling skilled trades jobs in rural locations has been an ongoing challenge. (Chelsea Kemp/CBC)Rural Manitoba businesses are closely watching for upcoming federal immigration changes, concerned about how those shifts could affect their ability to fill long-standing labour gaps.Last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney warned Canada’s current immigration levels are not sustainable and said his government plans to scale back the number of temporary foreign workers, while creating a more “focused” approach to immigration policies. Comments like those have sparked concerns in industries that already struggle to recruit.Filling skilled trades jobs, heavy-duty service technicians, in the agriculture industry has been challenging for years, according to Courtney Matienzo, who is a Brandon-based talent acquisition specialist with Mazergroup — a group of machinery dealerships specializing in agricultural products.”We’re definitely still struggling, just like any other dealership looking for service technicians,” Matienzo said.Mazergroup has machinery dealerships with around 425 employees — including about nine temporary foreign workers — in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Matienzo said.Hiring for rural locations can take months, she said, and unfilled positions put extra strain on staff, leading to burnout and slower service. Prime Minister Mark Carney said last month his government aims to reduce the total number of temporary foreign workers and international students to less than five per cent of Canada’s population by the end of 2027, down from a peak of 7.3 per cent in 2024. (Patrick Morrell/CBC News)To close those gaps, Mazergroup partly depends on the temporary foreign worker program, along with provincial nomination streams.”It’s not that we rely fully on the program, but definitely to fill any of our gaps in our rural locations,” said Matienzo.Last month, Carney said the Liberal government aims to reduce the total number of temporary foreign workers and international students to less than five per cent of Canada’s population by the end of 2027, down from a peak of 7.3 per cent in 2024.In an emailed statement, Employment and Social Development Canada said temporary foreign worker program policies are reviewed and adjusted regularly, including targeting specific sectors and regional needs.The program is meant to fill temporary labour shortages, not replace long-term workforce strategies, the spokesperson said.”Where Canadians aren’t available, the program ensures Canadian farms and businesses stay open so we can build up our economy,” said the statement.Matienzo worries a blanket reduction to federal immigration programs could harm rural labour markets.WATCH | Rural Manitoba employers worry about effects of immigration policy changes: Promise of federal immigration changes raises concerns for rural businessesA recent promise by Prime Minister Mark Carney to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers and implement a “focused” immigration approach has some Manitoba businesses, who say they’re already facing recruitment challenges, worried about their ability to fill labour gaps.”What would help the most is being guaranteed that our position, specifically the heavy duty or ag service technicians, wouldn’t be an issue for the program,” she said.The agricultural sector is already facing a shortage of workers.A November 2024 report from the Canadian government said the agriculture sector expects to see a 15 per cent gap between labour demand and supply by 2030. Matienzo says that makes immigrant options essential.Labour shortage in rural areasThe president of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce says labour shortages have become one of the biggest challenges facing employers.Vacancies can often drag on for months or even years, said Jennifer Ludwig, who is also president of the Brandon-based Super Thrifty Drugs.Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Jennifer Ludwig says labour shortages have become one of the biggest challenges employers face. (Chelsea Kemp/CBC)The pharmacy chain has gone more than a year with some rural pharmacist roles unfilled, she said, because there just aren’t enough pharmacists in Manitoba. One way it’s addressed the issue by finding international graduates who meet the Canadian credentialing process, she said.”They have been working out quite well for us, which is wonderful. We’re very happy to have them help us,” she said.Ludwig agrees it’s important to re-evaluate federal immigration programs, but she wants to see a geographical approach that addresses labour shortages.Mazergroup vice-president of people and culture Karen MacDonald says the effects of labour shortages can be widely felt in rural areas. (Chelsea Kemp/CBC)Mazergroup vice-president of people and culture Karen MacDonald said the effects of those shortages can be seen in rural communities. “Ultimately, it’s the farmer that’s suffering,” she said.Bureaucratic delays in labour market impact assessments and other programs make the problem worse, said MacDonald, and she’d like to see approval times speed up to help employees get settled faster. ‘A little bit of a panic’The City of Brandon says it’s doing what it can to keep labour pipelines flowing. Samuel Solomon, an immigration and workforce development specialist with the city, said programs like the former federal rural and northern immigration pilot and the Manitoba provincial nominee program have helped bring physicians, engineers and skilled trades to the city of roughly 54,000.Samuel Solomon, a City of Brandon immigration and workforce development specialist, said programs like Manitoba’s provincial nominee program have helped bring physicians, engineers and skilled trades to the city of roughly 54,000. (Chelsea Kemp/CBC)”Brandon as a community has been welcoming,” Solomon said. “From our engagement with our federal and provincial partners, we’ve seen that they are valuing rural voices in some of the programs that we administer.”But employers say they need clarity and reassurance that skilled trades will remain eligible under immigration policies like the temporary foreign workers program.Mazergroup’s Matienzo is studying immigration and citizenship law at Queen’s University, which she says will enable her to be more nimble when it comes to recruiting international workers, regardless of any potential policy changes.But she still thinks some changes should be avoided.”Don’t touch the program for ag,” Matienzo said.”If that program was to be no more, I think there would be … even for our current employees who are temporary foreign workers a little bit of a panic.”ABOUT THE AUTHORChelsea Kemp is a multimedia journalist with CBC Manitoba. She is based in CBC’s bureau in Brandon, covering stories focused on rural Manitoba. Share your story ideas, tips and feedback with chelsea.kemp@cbc.ca.
Promised immigration changes worry rural Manitoba businesses already struggling to fill jobs
