WestJet Explores Hiring Temporary Foreign Workers to Address Pilot Shortage
WestJet Weighs Use of Temporary Foreign Workers Amid Ongoing Pilot Shortage
Calgary-based airline WestJet is considering hiring temporary foreign workers (TFWs) to help address a shortage of pilots for its regional subsidiary, WestJet Encore.
In a statement to CBC News, spokesperson Julia Kaiser said the company is exploring the federal Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process as one of “multiple avenues” to fill the gap. The LMIA is a required step for employers seeking to hire through the TFW program, intended to confirm there are no qualified domestic workers available.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Canada, the union representing WestJet pilots, says it was not consulted by either the airline or the federal government about the application.
“This application should never have been made,” said ALPA Canada president Capt. Tim Perry. He added that while the union supports permanent immigration and hiring newcomers, it opposes the use of the temporary foreign worker program specifically.
Perry argued that if WestJet is struggling to recruit pilots, the company should improve its collective agreement rather than seeking temporary labour from abroad. The union also claims that WestJet has already received federal approval to hire through the TFW program—though neither the airline nor Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) have confirmed this.
Aviation industry expert John Gradek, a faculty lecturer at McGill University, noted that pilot shortages are a global issue, exacerbated by disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he criticized WestJet’s approach.
“WestJet is trying to short-circuit the process of hiring Canadian pilots,” said Gradek. “This is not the way to handle high-quality, demanding aviation jobs in Canada.”
WestJet has confirmed that, to date, it has not hired any workers through the TFW program.
Perry expressed frustration over the lack of engagement from the federal government, saying the union’s collective bargaining rights have been undermined. He believes the union should be consulted if the government deems there are no domestic workers available to fill the roles.
ESDC declined to comment on the specific situation, citing privacy concerns, but directed CBC News to its online database of employers approved to hire temporary foreign workers. That database has yet to reflect approvals granted in 2025.
