Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the program should be phased out during a press conference in Mississauga, Ont., on Wednesday morning. The Canadian Press
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on Wednesday that Canada must abolish the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program. He said the program hurts young Canadians looking for jobs and keeps wages low.
“It’s time to take decisive action to protect our youth and workers,” Poilievre said. He urged the government to “immediately stop issuing new TFW permits, and end this wage-suppressing, opportunity-stealing program.”
Poilievre said his plan would scrap the program entirely, except for a separate system for farm jobs that are difficult to fill. He added that regions with very low unemployment could have a five-year phase-out period. However, he insisted no new permits should be issued anywhere in Canada.
Program Under Scrutiny
His call comes as the program faces growing criticism. Some argue the availability of lower-wage foreign workers prevents wages from rising in many communities.
This year, the federal government set a goal of bringing in 82,000 workers under the program. Last year, Ottawa introduced restrictions, saying it would not accept applications for low-wage foreign workers in regions with an unemployment rate above six per cent.
A low-wage job is defined as one that pays less than the provincial median hourly wage. Employers can only hire up to 10 per cent of their workforce through the low-wage stream. The maximum work term has also dropped from two years to one.
Government’s Response
Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to Poilievre’s proposal hours later. He said the program “has a role” in Canada’s economy.
“We will be discussing how well the Temporary Foreign Worker program is working and how our overall immigration system is working,” Carney told reporters during a cabinet retreat in Toronto.
He said the government is taking “clear steps to adjust” the immigration system.
Rights Groups Push Back
Migrant rights groups strongly criticized Poilievre’s comments. The Migrant Workers Alliance for Change accused him of fuelling fear about migrants.
“He is scapegoating migrant workers for problems created by corporate profiteering and government inaction on housing, jobs and wages,” said Syed Hussan, the group’s executive director. He added that Poilievre should instead demand permanent residency for all migrants to end exploitation.
Federal Data and Future Targets
Government data shows Ottawa plans to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers from 6.5 per cent of the population to below five per cent by 2026. The government has also capped the number of international student permits and plans to reduce them from 485,000 in 2024 to 437,000 this year.
Immigration officials said Poilievre’s claims misrepresent the program. “The TFW Program is designed to respond to labour market changes and allow employers to hire foreign workers when qualified Canadians or permanent residents are not available,” the department said.
Expert Concerns
Some economists have warned that employers rely too heavily on the system. They say it allows companies to depend on cheap labour, which can discourage them from hiring Canadian workers or raising wages.
