Tourism operators on the province’s west coast are calling on the provincial and federal governments to make changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program to reflect the realities of season operations.

The call is being lead by Gros Morne Gatherings on behalf of regional operators.

They say current workforce policies are largely designed for year-round industries, and do not align with the six-month operating cycle of the tourism sector.

The group indicates that federal measures introduced in 2024 have made it more difficult to secure and retain the workforce needed to deliver services during the peak season.

They are calling for four main changes: They want a dedicated seasonal stream or regional exemption tourism operators, multi-year approvals for returning workers with histories of strong compliance, pathways to permanency for essential workers that do not require year-round employment, and predictable processing timelines.