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Robots vs. Immigration – A Controversial Plan For Future Workforces?

Can technology end the contentious debate over immigration?

In the province of Quebec, the Parti Quebecois is asking this, exact, question.
They propose reducing temporary foreign workers from 270,000 to 40,000 and filling the gap with automated systems across industries like agriculture and manufacturing.
Inspired by models in South Korea and Japan, this plan pushes Quebec toward a future that relies on automation over immigration.

Why this is interesting…

Automation and robotics can take on tasks that are low-skilled, low-paying, and generally offer limited upward mobility.
For Quebec, this shift promises to create new business opportunities that could offer higher-paying, skilled jobs that might drive local innovation.
As PQ’s approach suggests, it’s not just about reducing costs or numbers – it’s a strategic shift toward investing in technology, which could make Quebec a competitive leader in automation.

Still… let’s be realistic…

Temporary foreign workers fill gaps that machines can’t easily address, especially in fields requiring flexibility and adaptability – qualities that most robots currently lack.
Displacing these roles with machines could risk alienating communities reliant on immigration, while automation’s high costs and infrastructure needs might burden small and medium enterprises unprepared for such a transition.

So, what is the right balance between technological advancement and social responsibility?

Quebec may gain an economic edge by investing in robotics, but a rapid transition risks skill gaps and financial strain in industries shifting from human labor to automation.
Unlike nations like South Korea and Japan, where automation is deeply integrated, Quebec faces a steep learning curve, requiring policies and support for a phased and thoughtful transition.
Still, it’s amazing to think this type of approach hasn’t even been a talking point in the pending U.S. presidential election.
As this debate unfolds, Quebec stands on the edge of a future where robots may indeed do the work, but it must consider whether this move will ultimately be a gain – or a loss – for the province’s identity and economy.

I support/like this idea (which should surprise no one).

Let robots do work that humans no longer need to do (usually low education/low skill which mean low pay/low chance of improvement)
And, this is less about immigration, costs and planning as much as it is a smart shift in philosophy and approach to a wealthier tomorrow.

This is what Justine McIntyre and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Mitch Joel · Robots vs. Immigration – A Controversial Plan For Future Workforces? – The Elias Makos Show – CJAD 800

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Mitch Joel

Mitch Joel lives at the intersection of technology, business transformation and consumer culture. He is the Executive Director of Next Era Institute, a strategic intelligence platform helping leaders understand the forces reshaping business, technology, culture and society. The Institute identifies which shifts matter, explores their wider significance and translates them into strategic direction and momentum. Mitch is also a globally recognized keynote speaker. He has delivered thousands of presentations across both B2B and B2C industries to organizations including Google, Walmart, LEGO, Shopify, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Strategy Magazine has called him “one of North America’s leading visionaries.” Mitch built his career by working directly inside the waves of change that reshaped modern business. He founded and built a digital marketing agency that worked with some of the world’s largest brands and was later acquired by WPP, where he served as President of a firm operating in 25 countries with almost 3,000 employees. Mitch is the bestselling author of Six Pixels of Separation and CTRL ALT Delete, and the host of Thinking With Mitch Joel, one of the longest-running business podcasts in the world. His writing and commentary appear in outlets including Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and Inc. Magazine. He is a member of Dr. Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches and was named to the Thinkers50 Radar. Mitch also hosts Groove – The No Treble Podcast, documenting the oral history of electric bass players. Mitch is also Co-Founder of ThinkersOne, a platform that enables companies to bring personalized thought leadership from world-class experts into meetings, events and off-sites in focused 15-minute bursts.