Conservative MP challenges Tim Hortons over firings of Canadian workers

A Conservative MP is challenging Tim Hortons after a location in Grimsby, Ontario, reportedly told Canadian workers they would be fired amid a planned franchise sale.

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A Conservative MP is challenging Tim Hortons after a location in Grimsby, Ontario, reportedly told Canadian workers they would be fired amid a planned franchise sale.

In a post on X on Thursday, Niagara West MP Dean Allison publicly questioned the coffee chain about the reports that Canadian employees were being let go.

“Hey, @TimHortons, what are you doing in your @TownofGrimsby stores?” Allison wrote. “Are you firing all Canadian workers? My constituents, and all of us, need to know what’s happening.”

Tim Hortons responded publicly, explaining the situation stemmed from a pending ownership change involving a local franchisee.

“We have a Tim Hortons franchisee in Grimsby, Ontario, who is planning to retire from the business and would like to sell his restaurant to another local franchisee,” the company said in its reply.

According to the company, discussions between the selling and prospective buying franchisees led to existing staff being told their employment would end once the sale was completed.

“Following discussions between the two franchisees, existing team members were told that their employment would end with the sale of the restaurant,” Tim Hortons said.

The company acknowledged the handling of the situation was inappropriate.

“We believe this was a bad outcome,” the statement said.

Tim Hortons said the selling franchisee later reversed course, apologizing to staff and issuing written confirmation that their jobs would continue.

“The selling franchisee has apologized to his team and provided letters today that reconfirm their continued employment,” the company said.

Tim Hortons added that if the transaction proceeds, the incoming franchise owner has committed to retaining the existing workforce.

“Assuming the sale goes through, the buying franchisee has committed that he will maintain the employment of all the existing team members,” the company said.

The exchange comes amid increased political and public scrutiny over employment practices in the fast-food sector, particularly in communities where franchises are major local employers.

Allison did not reference the ownership change in his initial post, focusing instead on the impact on workers and the need for clarity for residents in his riding.

Tim Hortons operates on a franchise model, with individual restaurant owners responsible for hiring and staffing decisions, subject to company standards and local labour laws.

The federal government approved over hundred thousand temporary worker visas in the final half of 2024, many of which were for jobs at fast-food restaurants, including Tim Hortons.

Earlier this year at one Tim Hortons location, a manager offered a17-year-old female Canadian employee to marry her Indian adult brother to secure a path to permanent residency in Canada.