Ontario investigating recruiter for placing migrants in low-wage jobs at Canadian Tire

Three former workers claimed they were never asked if they wanted immigration services, alleging they were told to pay the fees if they wanted the job. Two of these workers have since obtained Open Work Permits for Vulnerable Workers, citing the high fees as contributing to their vulnerability.

One government application stated: “We were forced to accept a lot of bad things from our employer because if we are fired, we can never earn that money back,” according to the report.

Canadian Tire’s reaction

The Canadian Tire Corporation has distanced itself from the issue, emphasizing its franchise model. In a statement to The Globe, the company said it has no authority over the hiring practices of franchisees. Following a previous investigation, however, Canadian Tire issued a memo urging franchise owners to ensure third-party recruiters comply with TFWP rules.

The Globe found that at least 45 Canadian Tire stores in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta have used Ms. Jones’s services. Federal data shows that 51 stores linked to her agency were approved to hire 635 TFWP workers between 2017 and early 2024, according to the report.

Because parent companies do not have any direct control over their franchisees – in that the parents don’t hire or fire store employees – those parents are cautious about making sure that they don’t overstep boundaries, said Dave Lush, executive director of the Alliance of Canadian Franchisees, said in the report.