Fort Frances is fighting to keep immigrant workers in the community and across the district.

A decision by the federal government to restrict the number of applicants wanting temporary or permanent residency in Canada is being felt by the area’s business owners, who worked to bring workers in to fill long-standing job vacancies.

In a letter written to Mayor Andrew Hallikas, one worker states that their employers are supporting them as they navigate the immigration process, but their current work permits are nearing expiration, and they face uncertainty about their future in the town.

Hallikas says he has also spoken with workers who are facing the same uncertainty.

“I’ve been in personal contact with a number of the foreign workers in town,” says Hallikas.

” A lot of them have realized that it’s an issue I’m passionate about. So they write to me, and I respond to every single one of them. It’s really touching because these people are integral members of our community. They’re exactly the type of people that we want to come here. They’re hardworking, they’re polite, they volunteer, they’ve joined churches, and they’re just a pleasure to know.”

The issue was recently discussed at meetings involving area business owners, municipal representatives and Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski.

Hallikas says Powlowski is supportive.

“Many of the rural caucuses across the country face the same situation. And so Polowski is working with those rural caucuses to try and get a voice and bring it to the government to try to get some changes.”

Hallikas says immigrant workers are vital to the community, where the labour force has been in decline for many years.

He says without them, many businesses and organizations would be forced to reduce hours, limit services and even close.

The federal government intends to limit permanent resident applications for the next two years, reaching 365,000 from the 500,000 accepted in 2024.

Temporary resident applications are being used by 5% by the end of 2026.