Restaurants Canada is urging the federal government to grant immediate work permits to asylum seekers in Canada 🇨🇦. This call comes as the foodservice industry faces a severe labour shortage, with over 78,000 job vacancies across the country, especially in rural and tourist areas. The push for faster work authorization follows a joint appeal by Canada’s Premiers at the July 23-24, 2025 Council of the Federation meeting, where leaders asked for a more responsive immigration system to help fill urgent workforce gaps.
The foodservice sector, which employs about 1.2 million people, has struggled to find enough workers. Restaurants Canada says that letting asylum seekers work right away would help both newcomers and employers. “We need a federal-provincial framework that matches regional needs,” said Kelly Higginson, President and CEO of Restaurants Canada. She stressed that automatic work permits would let asylum seekers support themselves and contribute to the economy while waiting for their claims to be processed.
At the Council of the Federation meeting, Premiers from across Canada 🇨🇦 joined Restaurants Canada in calling for immediate work permits for asylum seekers and faster processing for all immigration streams. They argued that the current system is too slow and does not reflect the different needs of each province and territory.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford claimed that asylum seekers often wait more than two years for work permits, leaving them unable to work and support themselves. However, the federal government disagreed, saying the average processing time is about 45 days. According to federal officials, once an asylum claim is eligible for referral to the Immigration Refugee Board, work permits are usually issued within two weeks. Since 2022, asylum seekers can apply for work permits online as part of their stay request, which includes a required medical check.
Despite these claims, many advocates and employers say the process is still too slow. Restaurants Canada argues that even a few weeks of waiting can be a hardship for both asylum seekers and businesses desperate for staff. The group wants the government to automatically issue work permits as soon as someone submits an asylum claim, rather than making them wait for eligibility decisions and paperwork.
In May and June 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a new policy allowing some foreign nationals, such as temporary foreign workers, to start working for a new employer or in a new job while their work permit application is pending. This change aims to reduce employment gaps and make the labour market more flexible. However, it does not specifically help asylum seekers, who still face delays before they can legally work.
For asylum seekers, immediate work permits would mean they could start jobs right away, helping them settle faster and reducing their need for government support. Right now, they must apply for an open work permit after their claim is found eligible, and processing can take weeks or even months. The federal government says it is working to speed up the process, but many say more needs to be done.
For employers, especially in the foodservice industry, immediate work permits would help fill critical job openings. Restaurants Canada, which represents a major sector for newcomers, says that hiring asylum seekers could help solve the labour shortage and give newcomers a smoother path to employment. Many restaurants, especially in smaller communities, struggle to find cooks and other skilled workers. Allowing asylum seekers to work sooner would help keep businesses open and support local economies.
Canada 🇨🇦 has seen a large increase in asylum seekers in recent years, putting pressure on both the immigration and labour systems. In the past, work permits for asylum seekers were only given after their claim was found eligible, but delays have been a long-standing problem. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government introduced temporary rules to make work permits more flexible. These changes have now become part of the current policy for some foreign workers, but not yet for asylum seekers.
Other immigration policy changes in 2025 include Quebec’s decision to temporarily suspend and adjust some of its immigration streams. Quebec also plans to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers in Montreal by half, showing the different approaches provinces are taking to manage immigration. Meanwhile, International Experience Canada (IEC) applicants can now have work permits mailed to them within Canada 🇨🇦, making the process easier for young workers.
Stakeholders have different views on the issue. Restaurants Canada strongly supports immediate work permits for asylum seekers, saying it would help both the industry and newcomers. The Premiers back a more regional approach to immigration and want faster processing for all types of applications. The federal government points to recent improvements in processing times but admits there is still room for progress. Advocacy groups like the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change say that processing times can vary widely and that many asylum seekers still wait too long for permission to work.
Looking ahead, talks between federal and provincial governments continue as they try to create a system that better meets local labour needs and helps asylum seekers integrate more quickly. Restaurants Canada and the Premiers expect the federal government to take action soon, possibly by introducing new pilot programs or reforms later in 2025 or early 2026. These changes could make it easier for asylum seekers to get work permits and start working right away.
To understand how the process might change, here’s a simple comparison:
Current Process for Asylum Seekers:
– Submit asylum claim to IRCC
– Wait for claim eligibility decision
– Apply for an open work permit (link: IRCC work permit application)
– Wait about 45 days (sometimes longer) for approval
– Can only start working after receiving the permit
Proposed Immediate Work Permit Process:
– Submit asylum claim to IRCC
– Receive work permit automatically or very quickly
– Can start working right away while claim is processed
This change would give asylum seekers full access to the labour market and help employers fill jobs faster.
For more information on work permits and the latest immigration policies, visit the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the push for immediate work permits for asylum seekers reflects growing pressure on the government to address both humanitarian and economic needs. If the federal government acts on these calls, it could help thousands of newcomers find work and support themselves, while also helping businesses like restaurants stay open and serve their communities.
In summary, Restaurants Canada’s call for immediate work permits for asylum seekers highlights the urgent need for change in Canada’s immigration system. By allowing newcomers to work right away, the country can better support both its economy and those seeking a new life in Canada 🇨🇦. Employers, newcomers, and communities all stand to benefit from a faster, more flexible approach to work permits and immigration.
Learn Today
Asylum Seeker → A person seeking protection in Canada whose refugee claim is under review by immigration authorities.
Work Permit → Official authorization allowing a foreign national to legally work in Canada for a specified period.
Immigration Refugee Board → A Canadian tribunal that adjudicates refugee protection claims and related immigration matters.
Temporary Foreign Worker → A non-Canadian permitted to work temporarily in Canada under specific visa conditions.
Open Work Permit → A work permit that allows employment for any employer in Canada without job-specific restrictions.
This Article in a Nutshell
Amid a 78,000 shortage, Restaurants Canada calls for immediate work permits for asylum seekers to ease labour gaps. Current delays harm both newcomers and businesses. Faster permits enable quicker integration, supporting Canada’s economy and foodservice sector as discussions for reforms continue into 2026.
— By VisaVerge.com
