Researched and written by ai
I’m tired of businesses asking Canadians to shop patriotically while leaving us to wonder whether that same loyalty extends to their hiring practices. Canadian Tire describes itself as “proudly Canadian” and says its purpose is to “make life in Canada better.” Those are appealing words, but customers are entitled to ask what they mean for the people seeking jobs here—and for the workers recruited from abroad.
Canadian Tire’s use of temporary foreign workers extends beyond one isolated store. Reporting in 2024 identified at least 45 Canadian Tire stores across Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta that had used Allison Jones Consulting to recruit temporary foreign workers. That does not establish wrongdoing at every location, but it does establish that overseas recruitment was a practice used across dozens of stores.
At one Etobicoke location, there were documented consequences. Federal authorities fined store operator Geethaezhil Inc., owned by Ezhil Natarajan, $111,000 for Temporary Foreign Worker Program violations. Reported findings included failures to honour promised wages, working conditions or job duties. Former employees also alleged wage reductions and threats of dismissal when they raised concerns; those allegations should be distinguished from the violations established by the federal investigation.
Recruitment practices drew scrutiny too. Ontario ordered Allison Jones Consulting Services and AJ Immigration Group to repay nearly $165,000 after finding that temporary foreign workers had been unlawfully charged fees for placements at a Canadian Tire store. These were findings involving the recruitment businesses, separate from the store operator’s federal penalty.
Canadian Tire subsequently tightened its rules. A policy effective in December 2024 prohibited dealers from using recruiters or immigration consultants who charged foreign workers fees, including for immigration advice. That response deserves acknowledgement, alongside questions about how compliance is checked and what happens when an operator breaches the rules.
Hiring someone from abroad does not automatically make a business less Canadian. But asking customers to support Canadian businesses invites scrutiny of whether those businesses provide fair opportunities for citizens and permanent residents, offer wages that attract local applicants, and protect everyone they employ. Canadian Tire could strengthen its patriotic message by publishing clear recruitment figures, explaining its dealers’ use of the foreign-worker program and showing how worker protections are enforced.
If Canadian loyalty is valuable enough to sell, it should be meaningful enough to demonstrate in the workplace.
