Pierre Poilievre recently claimed that the government has given out more work permits than planned for 2025 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). However, the numbers he used are misleading.
The Conservative Party stated that “105,000 new Temporary Foreign Worker permits were issued in the first six months of 2025, despite a promised cap of 82,000.” But the 82,000 number is not a strict limit, it’s a target. It represents how many new foreign workers the government hoped to welcome to Canada in 2025.
The 105,000 permits include all types of permits, such as extensions for workers already in Canada. When counting only new workers coming to Canada, the number is 33,722, which is just 41% of the target. In fact, new worker arrivals have gone down by 50% in 2025 compared to last year.
Why Are Temporary Resident Numbers Declining?
The government made changes to the TFWP in 2024 to reduce the number of temporary workers in Canada. These changes include:
- Shortening the LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) validity period from 12 months to 6 months.
- Reducing the number of temporary workers a company can hire: from 30% to 20% overall, and from 20% to 10% in low-wage jobs.
- Limiting low-wage workers to one year instead of two.
- Pausing low-wage job approvals in areas with high unemployment.
- Raising the minimum wage for high-wage jobs by 20% above the median.
- Making job offers harder to approve by removing shortcuts like attestations from accountants or lawyers.
What is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)?
The TFWP started in 1973 to help employers hire foreign workers for jobs Canadians can’t fill. The program is run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Before hiring a worker, employers must get approval through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This test shows that hiring a foreign worker will not hurt Canadian workers.
How Employers Hire Through TFWP
- Identify the right stream: There are several streams depending on the type of work.
| Stream | Description |
|---|---|
| Global Talent Stream | For highly skilled jobs or special employers on the government list |
| Permanent Residence Stream | For hiring workers while they apply for permanent residence |
| High-Wage Stream | For jobs at or above the provincial median wage (from Nov 8, 20% above median) |
| Low-Wage Stream | For jobs below the median wage (currently paused in some areas) |
| Primary Agriculture Positions | For agricultural workers |
| Caregiver Positions | For full-time in-home caregivers |
| Foreign Academic Positions | For university teachers and researchers |
- Meet requirements: Employers must follow TFWP rules and cannot apply if they have broken them before.
- Recruit Canadians first: Employers must advertise jobs publicly and show they tried to hire Canadians or permanent residents before turning to foreign workers.
What’s Next for TFWP?
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the government is reviewing the program but will not get rid of it. He stressed that temporary foreign workers are not the main reason for immigration numbers, which are influenced by many factors.
Carney also mentioned that businesses across Canada, especially in Quebec, often need temporary foreign workers to run their operations smoothly.
Q: Does Canada allow unlimited foreign workers?
A: No. The government sets targets to control the number of new temporary workers, but these are goals, not strict limits.
Q: Are all 105,000 permits new workers?
A: No. Most of these are extensions for existing workers. Only about 33,700 permits were for new arrivals in the first six months of 2025.
Q: Why are fewer new workers coming to Canada in 2025?
A: The government made several changes to reduce temporary worker numbers, such as limiting low-wage jobs and raising wage requirements for high-wage jobs.
Q: Can employers hire without proving Canadians can’t do the job?
A: No. Employers must show they tried to hire Canadians before getting approval for foreign workers.
Q: Will TFWP be removed?
A: Not currently. The government is reviewing the program, but temporary foreign workers are still needed for many businesses
📞 Call us: 04 260 7837
📲 WhatsApp: wa.me/971529693030
🌐 Website: www.askkubeir.ae
📍 Office No. 45, 9th Floor, Conrad Tower, WTC, Dubai
