McDonald's Canada#Abuse of Temporary Foreign Workers Program

{{Short description|Canadian subsidiary of American fast food company McDonald's}}

{{Infobox company

| name = McDonald's Restaurants of Canada, Limited

| logo = McDonaldsOfCanada2006.png

| image = McDonald's office in Toronto - 2018.jpg

| image_caption = McDonald's head office in Toronto

| type = Subsidiary

| foundation = {{Start date and age|1967}}, in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

| founder = George Cohon

| location = 1 McDonald's Place

| location_city = North York{{efn|The City of North York was formally dissolved in 1998, when it was amalgamated with the other lower-tier municipalities of Metropolitan Toronto to form the single-tier City of Toronto government.}}, Ontario

| location_country = Canada

| locations = 1,466 {{cite web |title=Restaurants by Market 2023.xlsx - Restaurants by Market 2023.pdf |url=https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/content/dam/sites/corp/nfl/pdf/Restaurants%20by%20Market%202023.pdf |access-date=14 October 2024}} (2023)

| key_people = Michèle Boudria, President
Jacques Mignault, Chief Operating Officer

| area_served = Canada

| industry = Restaurant

| genre = Fast food

| products =

| services = Master franchise

| operating_income =

| revenue =

| net_income =

| num_employees = 90,000+{{cite web |url=https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/about-us/our-history.html |title= Our History - McDonalds Canada|access-date= August 7, 2022}} (2022)

| parent = McDonald's Corporation

| subsid =

| homepage = {{URL|mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca.html|mcdonalds.ca}}

| dissolved =

| footnotes =

}}

File:McDonaldsCanadaFlags.jpg

McDonald's Restaurants of Canada, Limited ({{langx|fr|Les Restaurants McDonald's du Canada Limitée}}) is the Canadian master franchise of the fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's, owned by the American parent McDonald's Corporation. One of Canada's largest fast-food restaurant chains, the franchise sells food items – including hamburgers, chicken, French fries and soft drinks – all across the country. McDonald's is known for its high fat and calorie foods. McDonald's was Canada's largest food-service operator before being overtaken by Tim Hortons in 2005.

The logo of McDonald's in Canada can be identified by the red maple leaf on the company's golden arches. The slogans used in Canada are i'm lovin' it in English and {{Lang|fr|c'est ça que j'm}} in French. McDonald's Canadian operations are headquartered in the North York area of Toronto, Ontario. The current president and CEO of McDonald's in Canada is Michèle Boudria. As of 2022, McDonald's Canada had 1,462 stores (including restaurants inside many Walmart Canada locations) in Canada, and more than 90,000 Canadian employees.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

History

Chicago-born George Cohon founded the company. The first store opened in 1967 in Richmond, British Columbia as the Western Canadian franchisee and operated with the U.S. operations. Cohon was the Eastern Canadian franchise and opened his store in 1968 on Oxford Street West in London, Ontario.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/about-us/our-history.html|title=Our History|publisher=McDonald's Canada|access-date=2017-08-12}} In 1971, Cohon merged the two operations to one national operation. Cohon was responsible for developing the eastern Canadian franchises.{{cite web |last=William-Ross |first=Lindsay |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/first-mcdonalds-canada-richmond-grand-reopening-2017 |title=McDonald's re-opens first Canadian on location in Richmond with a modern rebuild and fun look back to 1967 |work=Daily Hive |date=June 21, 2017 |access-date=November 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623143106/https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/first-mcdonalds-canada-richmond-grand-reopening-2017 |archive-date=June 23, 2017 |url-status=live}}

File:600th McDonald's Canada Skydome August 29 1989.jpg McDonalds Canada was a food sponsor at EXPO 86 with their floating restaurant nicknamed the McBarge.{{cite web |last1=Kergin |first1=Brendan |title=New short doc revisits aging McBarge, the floating McDonald's of Expo 86 (VIDEO) |url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/new-short-doc-revisits-aging-mcbarge-the-floating-mcdonalds-of-expo-86-video-4506932 |website=Vancouver Is Awesome |access-date=13 September 2024}}

In 1989, McDonald's was awarded the concessionary rights to the newly built SkyDome in Toronto. One of the requirements was to sell hotdogs, resulting in the first time McDonald's sold the product. Part of the stadium also included the largest McDonald's in Canada. The now closed restaurant was located at the base of the CN Tower.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} In 1993, the franchise briefly sold hot dogs outside the venue at reduced prices and in unlabelled carts, which was criticized by the other 25 hot dog vendors.{{cite web |title=McDonald's cries 'uncle' in Toronto hot dog war |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/08/27/McDonalds-cries-uncle-in-Toronto-hot-dog-war/3660746424000/ |website=UPI |access-date=13 September 2024}} The first PlayPlace opened in Niagara Falls, Ontario in 1995.{{cite web |title=From Big Macs to McLobsters: A look at 50 years of McDonald’s in Canada |url=https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2016/12/29/from-big-macs-to-mclobsters-a-look-at-50-years-of-mcdonalds-in-canada/ |website=Lethbridge News |publisher=The Canadian Press |access-date=13 September 2024}}

The flagship location opened in 2013 near the Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto.{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Lisa |title=Canada’s flagship McDonald’s to open near Dundas Square |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/canada-s-flagship-mcdonald-s-to-open-near-dundas-square/article_6344981b-1958-50c5-85cd-128f9bd60ef9.html |website=Toronto Star |access-date=13 September 2024}} Poutine was launched as a menu item nationally in 2013 (it was previously available only in Quebec).{{cite web |title=McDonald's poutine hitting menus across Canada |url=https://www.cbc.ca/1.2454323 |website=CBC News |access-date=13 September 2024}} In 2015, the company noted reduced customer traffic.{{cite web |last1=Sturgeon |first1=Jamie |title=As more Canadians pass on fast food, McDonald’s tries to get fitter |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/1789176/mcdonalds-tries-to-get-fitter-as-more-canadians-pass-on-fast-food/ |website=Global News |access-date=13 September 2024}} That same year, salads were launched, with sodium and fat content that were comparable to other menu items.{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Sophia |title=Healthy fast food? McDonald's kale salad has more calories than a Double Big Mac |url=https://www.cbc.ca/1.3423938 |website=CBC News |access-date=13 September 2024}} Salads were then discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Colby |title=The Surprising Reason McDonald's Ditched This Menu Item |url=https://www.eatthis.com/mcdonalds-ditched-salads/ |website=Eat This, Not That |access-date=13 September 2024}} In 2020, McDonald's partnered with Snapchat, with some job applicants sending 30-second videos through the platform.{{cite web |last1=Sturman |first1=Catherine |title=McDonalds will be the first brand in Canada to support jobseekers with ‘Snapplications’ |url=https://businesschief.com/digital-strategy/mcdonalds-will-be-first-brand-canada-support-jobseekers-snapplications |website=Business Chief |access-date=13 September 2024}} In 2021, locations in Ontario attached COVID-19 vaccine flyers to takeout orders.{{cite web |last1=Casoletto |first1=Lucas |title=McDonald’s to insert pamphlets in takeout bags to promote vaccinations in Ontario |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/07/08/mcdonalds-vaccine-pamphlets-ontario/ |website=CityNews Everywhere |access-date=13 September 2024}}

In February 2025, following the 4 Nations Face-Off with Canada and the United States, McDonald's Canada temporarily renamed two restaurants in Edmonton, Alberta and Newmarket, Ontario to McDavid's, named after Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Sportsnet |date=2025-02-28 |title=McDonald's temporarily renaming two locations after Connor McDavid |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/mcdonalds-temporarily-renaming-two-locations-after-connor-mcdavid/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Sportsnet.ca |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Welcome to McDavid’s! Fast food eatery rebrands in honour of Edmonton Oilers captain {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/11060539/edmonton-mcdonalds-mcdavids/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}

Scandals

McDonald's Canada was criticized for its use of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program. These workers could be paid less than other employees, which is attractive to employers wishing to cut costs.{{cite web |last1=Lundy |first1=Matt |title=How Canada became a hotbed for low-wage foreign labour |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-tfw-program-canada-low-wages/ |website=Globe and Mail |access-date=13 September 2024}} Three of its franchises in Victoria, British Columbia were federally investigated for their use of the program. McDonald's Canada also stated that it would conduct a review. In a conference call to the franchisees about the program, McDonald's Canada CEO John Betts stated: "the fact of the matter is we are a big bad company corporate you know, bad company. And these poor maligned employees, are who they are ... This has been an attack on our brand ... This is an attack on our people. It's bullshit." These locations had their permits for the program suspended during the investigation.{{cite web |last1=Mas |first1=Susana |title=Temporary Foreign Worker Program sanctions target 3 employers |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/temporary-foreign-worker-program-sanctions-target-3-employers-1.2600516 |website=CBC News |access-date=13 September 2024}}

File:99 Rideau Street - 01.jpg

On May 1, 2023, a McDonald's franchise in Ottawa, referred to as the Rideau Street McDonald's due to its location at 99 Rideau Street, was closed indefinitely after the franchise owners chose to not renew their lease.{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Amy Dempsey Senior |date=2023-05-02 |title=Midnight brawls, a baby raccoon and a police chief’s letter: How the ‘World’s Worst McDonald’s’ became a symbol of downtown decay |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/midnight-brawls-a-baby-raccoon-and-a-police-chief-s-letter-how-the-world-s/article_d3994daa-6633-5bd8-b27e-d33cd220bcf7.html |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}} The Rideau McDonald's had been dubbed as the "World's Worst McDonald's" by the Toronto Star due to its reputation of being a "flashpoint for crime".{{Cite web |date=2023-03-19 |title=Marchers mourn end of a McEra as notorious Ottawa McDonald's will soon be McGone-ald's |url=https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/marchers-mourn-end-of-a-mcera-as-notorious-ottawa-mcdonald-s-will-soon-be-mcgone-ald-s-1.6319774 |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Ottawa |language=en}} In April 2019, Ottawa Police Chief, Charles Bordeleau, wrote a letter to McDonald's Canada CEO, stating that "Officers of the Ottawa Police Service attend this location on a daily basis to address issues including vagrancy, liquor licence violations, illicit drug use, and incidents of violence," and that he believed the 99 Rideau location was "breaching your standards of operation".{{Cite news |last=Kupfer |first=Matthew |date=April 18, 2019 |title=Rideau Street McDonald's reduces hours due to security concerns |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/99-rideau-street-mcdonalds-not-24-hours-public-safety-1.5102415#:~:text=17-,The%20infamous%20McDonald's%20at%2099%20Rideau%20St.%20will%20no%20longer,p.m.%20seven%20nights%20a%20week. |work=Canadian Broadcasting Company}} In response, McDonald's Canada reduced the restaurants hours from 24 hours to 6 am to 10 pm. In January 2023, the Rideau McDonald's franchise owners stated that they were not renewing their lease and the restaurant would close. In response to the closure, a group of University of Ottawa students organized a fundraiser and food drive referred to as the Rideau McDonald's Farewell March on March 19, 2023.{{Cite news |last=Anand |first=Avanthika |date=March 19, 2023 |title=Marchers bid farewell to storied, controversial Rideau Street McDonald's |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/rideau-mcdonald-s-farewell-march-1.6784059 |access-date=March 16, 2024 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Company}} The Farewell March had over 200 attendees and raised over $1,900 for local charities such as Operation Come Home.{{Cite web |title=Ottawa residents march to bid farewell to Rideau Street McDonald's |url=https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2023/03/20/ottawa-residents-march-to-bid-farewell-to-rideau-street-mcdonalds-6726985/#:~:text=Organizers%20of%20the%20'McDonald's%20Farewell,youth%20age%2016%20and%20up. |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=ottawa.citynews.ca}}

Notes

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite news | title = Wendy's confirms Tim Hortons IPO by March | work = Ottawa Business Journal | date = 2005-12-01 | url = http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/284838323369567.php | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060629032314/http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/284838323369567.php | archive-date = 2006-06-29 }}

{{Cite web | title = McDonald's accused of favouring foreign workers | publisher = CBC | year = 2014 | access-date = 2014-03-23 | url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mcdonald-s-accused-of-favouring-foreign-workers-1.2598684}}

{{Cite web | title = McDonald's Canada CEO calls foreign worker controversy 'bullshit' | publisher = CBC | year = 2014 | access-date = 2014-03-23 | url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mcdonald-s-canada-ceo-calls-foreign-worker-controversy-bullshit-1.2621151}}

}}