Lululemon CEO texted Federal Minister before company was allowed to bypass hiring Canadian workers

2016 – Lululemon asks federal government to change Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program requirements

Lululemon’s Pre-Budget Submission hinted it would leave Canada if Temporary Foreign Worker Program requirements weren’t changed:

Canada currently does not produce enough skilled, specialized experienced workers in our required areas to meet our demand

2022 – Lululemon applies for TFW program exemption to bypass hiring Canadian workers when hiring TFWs

Lululemon applied for an exemption to the TFW program while suggesting it might not build its global headquarters in Vancouver or could move jobs to the United States if its request wasn’t approved.

2023 – Lululemon CEO texted Minister of Innovation about the company’s exemption request, doesn’t record lobbying on federal lobbyist registry

At the May 2023 press conference, Champagne said Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald had texted him regarding the company’s application. Champagne said he contacted then-immigration minister Sean Fraser, whose department approved Lululemon’s request. 

Lululemon has retained a lobbyist to speak to officials about temporary foreign workers, but there is no official record on the federal lobbyist registry about McDonald’s alleged exchange with Champagne. 

Lululemon told government it might stop its Vancouver expansion if it couldn’t hire foreign workers, documents reveal – Investigative Journalism Foundation

If we did not act, Lululemon’s headquarters may not have been in Vancouver anymore

Without the quick action of Minister Fraser, we would probably not be here today, and Lululemon might not have been in Canada for the future

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne

February 2023 – Minister of Immigration Sean Fraser allows Lululemon to skip hiring Canadians when hiring TFWs until 2026

The exemption allows Lululemon to hire roles including graphic designers, advertising and marketing managers, computer systems managers, retail wholesale buyers, pattern-makers and industrial engineers. without attempting to hire Canadians first until April 2026.

Lululemon says it has hired 116 employees (3% of its corporate office-based employees) under the exemption.