TikTok CEO Shou Chew is urging the federal government to reverse its decision to shut down TikTok’s Canadian operations, warning of serious consequences for local jobs, creators, and investment. Ottawa wants offices shut down, but will let the app stay operating in Canada.
In a letter sent to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, dated July 2, and obtained by Politico, Chew calls for an in-person meeting to discuss what he calls a “critical juncture” for the platform in Canada.
“Unless you intervene, TikTok will be forced to fire all of its Canadian employees, halt hundreds of millions of dollars of direct investment in Canada, and withdraw its support for Canadian creators and culture,” Chew wrote.
The CEO argues that the wind-up order—originally issued under the previous government—does not reflect current realities and is based on “sensationalized reporting and tenuous claims of national security.”
“No evidence has been presented to show that TikTok is itself a security threat to Canada,” said Chew, adding that “this order is based on sensationalized reporting… none of which are addressed by shutting down our local offices.”
Chew says TikTok Canada currently employs over 350 people in Toronto and Vancouver. In 2024 alone, the company claims it contributed $602 million to Canada’s GDP, with $353 million in direct investment. Since 2019, TikTok says its Canadian operations have supported 9,000 full-time-equivalent jobs and generated $340 million in federal and provincial tax revenue.
“Having a local Canadian team means that we have employees who understand Canada’s culture and history and who speak its languages,” he wrote.
Chew also cited TikTok’s contributions to Canadian culture, including launching the TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators and the TikTok JUNO Fan Choice Award. The social network previously said it was shutting down funding for arts organizations due to Ottawa’s mandate.
“We want to support Canadian culture and content creators, but should the wind-up proceed, we will be unable to continue these partnerships and the funding we provide.”
The letter further argues that keeping operations in Canada ensures TikTok remains accountable to regulators, including the Privacy Commissioner and Elections Canada. “This work happens because of our locally accountable and engaged employees—whose jobs will be terminated under this harmful wind-up order,” Chew stated.
He proposed an alternative to the shutdown: enhanced data security protocols verified by a third party, along with greater platform transparency and oversight. “This approach serves the interests of Canadians,” Chew wrote. “By taking this action toward TikTok, Canada is making itself an outlier among Five Eyes nations and its other allies.”
Chew ended the letter by formally requesting a face-to-face meeting with Minister Joly “within the next two weeks,” stressing the urgency of the situation.
Given the letter was sent on July 2 and today is July 14, that’s near the end of the two week window Chew was requesting, and so far Ottawa has yet to respond to the request.
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