Growing Tensions Over Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada

What is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program?

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals when there are no Canadians or permanent residents available to fill certain jobs. Workers admitted under the program receive time-limited work permits tied to a specific employer and job, meaning they cannot easily switch employers without government approval. Originally intended as a short-term measure to address acute labor shortages in sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and caregiving, the program has expanded significantly over the past two decades. Today, it remains a controversial tool, seen by some as essential to sustaining industries that struggle to recruit domestically, and by others as a system that fosters exploitation, suppresses wages, and undermines opportunities for Canadian workers.

Historical Background and Systemic Flaws

Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) was created to fill labor shortages when no Canadian workers are available, with employers required to secure a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before hiring foreign workers. While intended to address legitimate labor gaps, the program has faced mounting criticism over the years. A report by the UN Special Rapporteur described the program as a “breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery,” citing systemic issues such as debt bondage, wage theft, hazardous working conditions, and power imbalances that disproportionately affect vulnerable foreign workers. Amnesty International echoed these concerns, stating that the structure of the program facilitates broad exploitation beyond isolated cases.

Documented abuses include not only mistreatment but also bureaucratic shortcomings. Many migrants find themselves in limbo when facing long delays in processing applications. Reuters reported that LMIA processing times nearly tripled—from 58 to 165 business days between September 2023 and March 2025. This backlog has forced some migrants into undocumented employment or forced them to work without access to healthcare or other essential services. The plight of individuals like Devi Acharya underscores that this is not theoretical—loss of status due to administrative delays can have serious, even life-threatening consequences.

Economic and Social Backlash

On the economic front, critics argue that an overreliance on low-wage temporary workers can suppress wages, hinder productivity, and avoid investment in training domestic workers. Some economists suggest that continuing to integrate low-skilled foreign labor without ensuring upward mobility may burden public services while not contributing to long-term economic advancement. Popular sentiment in recent years has also shifted. As of 2025, temporary migrants—including foreign workers and international students—account for fewer than 5% of Canada’s population, down from a high of 7.3%, as the government seeks to contain pressures on housing and infrastructure.

David Eby’s Critical Perspective

In a recent and forceful public statement, BC Premier David Eby urged the federal government to either significantly reform or cancel the TFW program. Speaking on September 4, 2025, he emphasized that the program exacerbates youth unemployment, strains housing and social services, and contributes to systemic vulnerabilities, including fraud in LMIA sales. Eby called the program “not working,” and urged the federal government to either terminate it or overhaul it fundamentally to prevent abuse and better align with provincial needs.

However, Eby didn’t advocate for a blanket ban without nuance. He acknowledged sectors—like agriculture—that genuinely rely on temporary labor, and suggested that reforms must preserve flexibility for essential industries while addressing broader systemic issues. To this end, he offered to collaborate with other provinces in a “serious, grown-up conversation about immigration in Canada” to assess the program’s impact on critical infrastructure and local economies.

Broader Political Implications

Premier Eby’s remarks—aligned with similar calls from Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre—add pressure to an already fraught national debate over immigration and labor policy. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has warned that outright cancellation could harm small businesses in rural areas that depend on the program to fill staffing gaps. On the federal level, Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged a review, indicating that while the program may still play a role, reforms are needed. Changes underway include rejecting low-wage stream applications in high-unemployment regions, shortening permit duration from two years to one, and limiting how many TFWs a business can employ.