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Thunder Bay unemployment 1.5% below national average

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The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) presented the results of their Labour Market Outlook Study to more than 15 major local employers last week.

Here are the numbers as of October 2025:

  • Labour Force: 64,600 individuals
  • Employed: 61,100
  • Unemployed: 3,500
  • Employment Rate: 61.3%
  • Unemployment Rate: 5.4%

Thunder Bay is significantly below the national unemployment rate of 6.9%.

The study was conducted by Dr. Camillo Lento, Dr. Robert Petrunia, and Dr. Karl Skogstad of Lakehead University. The CEDC says the results show a strong Thunder Bay workforce.

“Through this work, the CEDC aims to support a resilient and adaptive local economy, one where residents have access to meaningful employment opportunities and employers can effectively meet their workforce requirements,” the CEDC wrote in a press release. “The findings are intended to guide collaborative action that strengthens the long-term sustainability and prosperity of the Thunder Bay region.”

At the meeting, experts anticipated notable labor shortages in the health and trades, transport and equipment operator sectors. The CEDC says these patterns reflect the combined effects of population aging, increased retirements, and rising demand for health care services.

“The session is really about getting everyone in the same room and on the same page,” said CEDC CEO Jamie Taylor. “We regularly engage our major employers through community meetings like this to ensure we are supporting their needs while also responding to the broader needs of our community.”

Minister Crawford Holds a Press Conference _ March 13 - YouTube and 1 more page - Work - Microsoft​ Edge 2026-03-13 2_52_05 PM

Ontario proposing store openings on two statutory holidays

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We could see some retail stores opening in Ontario on Family Day and Victoria Day in the future.

The Ford government is planning legislation that gives them the option.

If stores open, they will be required to pay employees premium and public holiday pay.

Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, Stephen Crawford, says it gives employees the flexibility to take on extra shifts while maintaining their right to take a day off.

“By giving retailers the option to open on Family Day and Victoria Day, we are supporting employees and businesses while giving families more choice and convenience to shop at their local retail stores,” states Crawford in a release.

The move follows comments Premier Doug Ford made to reporters in February, lamenting about shopping malls in his community being closed during Family Day.

The government says the proposed changes will create a fairer, more consistent approach for businesses and workers while allowing families to enjoy the convenience of shopping during the holidays.

Family Day and Victoria Day are non-religious, statutory holidays observed across Ontario.

Victoria Day has existed as a holiday in Canada since 1854, originally falling on May 24 to recognize Queen Victoria’s birthday, and becoming variable in 1952 to provide most Canadians with a long weekend.

Family Day was first observed in Ontario in 2008.

On October 12, 2007, the provincial government established Family Day on the third Monday in February, to be first observed on February 18, 2008.

Fort Frances Civic centre Jan 2026

Fort Frances offers incentive to summer job applicants

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The town of Fort Frances is setting up a bursary program.

Twelve bursaries of 25-hundred dollars each are being established to help in the recruitment of youth to fill seasonal positions.

A report to the town states that it has been facing challenges attracting qualified students, leading to service gaps because some positions can not be filled.

It adds that the student wage rate of $18.94 an hour is not competitive with the wages offered in other job opportunities for young people.

The program will be offered this year as a pilot.

It will be reviewed at the end of the summer to determine its success and whether it should be continued.

Alstom Worker

New Alstom contract with Toronto a major win for Thunder Bay

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Workers at the Alstom plant are celebrating Thursday’s announcement of a $2.3 billion contract for new Toronto subway cars.

The project will build 70 new six-car trains for Toronto’s transit system, and all of them will pass through the Alstom Thunder Bay plant during the manufacturing process. Funding will support 240 jobs in Thunder Bay and 950 across the country.

“This is the greatest news we’ve had in a couple years around here,” said Justin Roberts, President of Unifor Local 1075, the union that represents hundreds of Alstom workers. “We couldn’t have done this without the constant lobbying of the union to keep these jobs in Canada.”

President of Unifor Local 1075 Justin Roberts speaks to the media after the announcement (Sam Goldstein/January 15 2026)

As part of PM Mark Carney’s Buy Canada policy, there will also be a 30 percent increase in Canadian materials and components in these subway cars, up to a total of 55 percent.

“It’s a really big deal because it’s the government backing a Buy Canada moment that is so essential to the sovereignty and success of Canada.” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and the minister for FedNor. “What we’re seeing now with the withdrawal of the United States from important agreements and the imposition of illegal tariffs is that no one will come to our rescue. We ourselves can build more than anyone can take away from us.”

Alstom is among the largest private employers in Thunder Bay.

Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria addresses the Alstom plant (Jacob Henriksen-Willis/January 15 2026)

“We’re living in difficult times. Softwood Lumber is experiencing real problems, the paper market is horrible. It’s really good to have a victory. It’ll be good to see more jobs here,” said Marcus Powlowski, MP of Thunder Bay-Rainy River.

“I’m really happy for the workers here, that they’ll continue to have jobs in the coming years,” he added.

The contract will go into effect in 2028 and Unifor expects it to last between 3 to 4 years. There is a possibility of the contract extending up to 10 years.

Pierre Poilievre September 3 2025

Conservatives call for end to temporary foreign worker program

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The federal Conservative leader is calling on the Liberal government to scrap the temporary foreign worker (TFW) program.

Leader Pierre Poilievre alleges the program is creating an “unemployment crisis” and taking jobs away from Canadians.

“The unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 is now 14.6 per cent,” Poilievre told reporters during a Wednesday news conference.

“The employment rate, the share of young people who are employed, is at its lowest level in over a quarter century outside of the pandemic.”

Poilievre also claims that the Liberal government is on track to issue the most temporary foreign worker permits ever this year.

The government promised a cap of 82,000 permits this year, but the Conservatives say more than 105,000 were issued during the first six months alone.

However, the federal government has said that figure also includes permit extensions for individuals who are already in Canada.

The Conservatives also said that temporary foreign workers have ballooned to account for nearly two per cent of the total private sector workforce over the past decade.

“The Liberals have to answer, why is it that they’re shutting our own youth out of jobs and replacing them with low-wage temporary foreign workers from poor countries who are ultimately being exploited?” said Poilievre.

“The workers themselves are not bad people. They are not the problem. They are being taken advantage of by Liberal corporate elites who want to use them to drive down wages.”

Poilievre said his party continues to support the dreams of all immigrants “who come here to be Canadian, to get a job, work hard, contribute and live a good life.”

The Conservatives are proposing a transition period of up to five years for ultra-low unemployment regions. Poilievre said there should be a separate, standalone program for difficult-to-fill agricultural labour.