I just sent this email to my MP and you should too.
Dear Mrs. Elizabeth May,
I’m writing to propose something that might sound crazy at first—but I believe it’s an idea worth serious national conversation: the Government of Canada should buy Tim Hortons and nationalize it.
Tim Hortons is undeniably a Canadian symbol. It’s been part of our shared national experience for decades. But the reality is, it’s not a Canadian company anymore. Since being sold to a foreign parent company, it’s felt less and less like the Tim Hortons we all grew up with.
It’s not just about ownership. It doesn’t employ Canadians like it used to—especially seniors, who often worked there part-time and genuinely loved the social connection and dignity that came with that work. Now, many of those jobs have disappeared or changed beyond recognition.
Visitors from around the world still come here excited to try “Tims,” thinking they’re about to experience something uniquely Canadian. What they often get instead is low-quality food and a disorganized, underpaid workforce. It reflects badly—not just on the company, but on Canada itself.
Nationalizing Tim Hortons could restore pride in something we all grew up with. It could mean better jobs, higher standards, and a stronger connection to Canadian communities and culture.
I hope you’ll consider raising this idea with your colleagues. At the very least, it’s time we started talking seriously about what we want our national institutions—including cultural icons like Tim Hortons—to look like.
Sincerely,
My name Address Phone number
The thing is it’s not failing because they exploit temporary foreign workers. Tim hortons gets richer by exploiting others.