Franchise operators face arithmetic that single-site employers do not.
Why the cap hurts more
The low-wage temporary foreign worker cap is 10%, calculated per work location — not per company.
A ten-location operator does not get a combined allowance. Each site is assessed separately, and a site with eight staff has effectively no room at all.
Why the geography rule hurts more
Low-wage LMIA applications are not processed where the work location is in a census metropolitan area with unemployment at 6% or higher. An operator with locations across several cities may find some sites eligible and others not, with the list changing quarterly.
Why food service was not protected
Exemptions from the 2024 restrictions went to primary agriculture, food processing, construction and healthcare. Food service was not included.
What sits outside all of it
Francophone Mobility is an LMIA exemption, so the cap, the geography rule and the advertising requirement do not apply.
Since 2023 all TEER levels qualify, so kitchen staff, counter staff and supervisors are eligible. The job does not have to be conducted in French; the worker must speak it.
What suits multi-site operators specifically
One posting can serve multiple locations if the roles are comparable. And a route with no per-location cap scales in a way the TFW program does not.
The recurring problem
Turnover in food service is relentless, so this is not a one-time hire. Whatever sourcing method you use has to work repeatedly, which makes a per-hire placement fee expensive over a year.
FrancoBridge charges a flat posting fee with no per-hire commission.
Rules update quarterly. This is not immigration advice. Consult a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.