C
anada’s roofing industry is facing 
a growing workforce challenge 
that now includes some of the 
very programs used to attract 
new workers. Recent discussions with 
the Canadian Roofing Contractors 
Association (CRCA) suggest similar 
challenges in other provinces and a 
disconnect between current immigration 
pathways like the federal Temporary 
Foreign Worker (TFW) program and 
the BC Provincial Nominee Program 
(BC PNP) and the long-term workforce 
needs of the skilled construction sector. 
For 
many 
roofing 
contractors, 
the concern right now is not simply 
recruiting workers; it’s retaining the 
skilled people they have already invested 
in. RCABC members are supporting 
apprenticeship training, helping workers 
progress towards Red Seal certification 
and supporting employees as they pursue 
permanent residency and citizenship. 
Locally, SkilledTradesBC has recognized 
the critical role RCABC plays in appren-
ticeship training by increasing financial 
support to meet the growing number of 
training seats.
Policy changes to the TFW program 
have narrowed the pathway between 
temporary status and permanent resi-
dency. As permits expire, many expe-
rienced workers, trained by Canadian 
employers, are progressing through 
apprenticeship 
programs 
and 
are 
running out of time before obtaining 
permanent residency. As a result, 
workers that employers want to keep – 
and that Canada still needs – are being 
forced to leave. 
WE NEED THE 
GOVERNMENT  
TO STEP UP!
While the Temporary Foreign Worker 
(TFW) Program may never have been 
intended to serve as a permanent source 
of labour, it has long provided a pathway 
for many workers to build careers and 
futures in Canada. Employers relied on 
that pathway in good faith, investing 
significant time and resources into 
recruitment, training, mentorship, safety 
certification and skills development.
For many roofing contractors, the 
BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC 
PNP) has also been an important work-
force development tool. The recent 
removal of roofers and shinglers 
(NOC 73110) from British Columbia’s 
priority construction occupation list 
has created significant uncertainty for 
both employers and workers. As a result, 
many experienced roofers may no longer 
have a viable pathway to permanent 
residency despite years of successful 
employment and integration into the 
Canadian workforce.
The workers affected by these 
policy changes are not new entrants to 
the labour market. They are produc-
tive, experienced employees who have 
demonstrated their value to employers 
and contribute to the economy. Many 
now face the prospect of leaving Canada 
despite substantial employer investment 
and an ongoing need for their skills!
The impact is particularly acute 
in British Columbia, where roofing 
contractors report growing challenges 
in retaining experienced workers. Similar 
concerns have been raised by employers 
across the country. Simply put, the 
roofing industry needs these workers. 
The sector is already struggling to attract 
enough new entrants to replace retiring 
workers and meet increasing construc-
tion demands. Losing trained and expe-
rienced employees only deepens an 
already critical labour shortage.
CRCA believes future advocacy 
efforts should focus on workforce 
development, employee retention and 
practical immigration solutions that 
reflect the realities of Canada’s construc-
tion labour market. Governments 
should create targeted measures to help 
employers retain skilled workers who 
are already contributing to the economy 
and filling essential workforce gaps.
A practical and immediate solu-
tion would be to establish a dedicated 
immigration pathway for experienced 
temporary foreign workers currently 
employed in the roofing industry and 
to restore roofers and shingles to the 
BC PNP priority construction occupa-
tion list. 
The message from the roofing 
industry is clear: Canada does not need 
to start from scratch. The workers 
are already here. They are paying 
taxes, building careers, contributing 
to their communities and helping 
address persistent labour shortages. 
Government action is needed to retain 
this experienced workforce and ensure 
immigration policies align with the real-
ities of workforce development and 
labour demand.  
10  l  ROOFINGBC  l  SUMMER 2026
BRYAN WALLNER 
Chief Executive Officer, RCABC
INDUSTRY UPDATE

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