Poilievre Demands Scrap Temporary Foreign Worker Program Immediately

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wants the federal government to end the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program. Speaking in Mississauga on Wednesday, he said the program drives down wages and limits opportunities for young Canadians.

“The Liberals have to answer, ‘Why is it that they are shutting our own youth out of jobs and replacing them with low-wage, temporary foreign workers from poor countries who are ultimately being exploited,’” Poilievre said.

Alternative Plan for Agriculture
The Conservatives say they will design a separate program for agriculture if they form government. Canada already has the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, which brings farm labourers from Mexico and Caribbean nations. Poilievre stressed he does not blame the workers but instead blames “liberal corporate elites” and the government for using them to maximize profits.

Concerns About Permits
Poilievre also accused the Liberals of breaking their own limits. He said they promised to cap TFW permits at 82,000 in 2025 but have already handed out 105,000. He warned the government could “break the record again” if it continues issuing permits at the current pace.

Liberals Respond
The federal government pushed back. Immigration Minister Lena Diab’s office said Poilievre’s figures include permit extensions. Her office reported only 33,722 new TFWs entered between January and June. That is about 40 per cent of the yearly total. Diab’s office also noted that 125,903 fewer temporary workers came during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Prime Minister’s Position
Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government is reviewing the program as part of a wider immigration review. He acknowledged foreign workers remain important for some businesses. “That program has a role, it has to be focused in terms of its role,” Carney said in Toronto.

Carney also said immigration as a share of the population will fall from seven per cent to five per cent in the coming years. He added that many business leaders still rank foreign worker access among their top priorities.

Pushback From Business Leaders
Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation for Independent Business, said eliminating the TFW program entirely would hurt small businesses. He said some industries cannot find enough local workers, especially in rural regions. “To suggest that the program itself be permanently scrapped, is just ridiculous,” Kelly said.

Population Growth Slows
The debate comes as Canada faces slower population growth. Statistics Canada reported growth of just 20,107 people in the first quarter of 2025, the weakest pace since 2020. Births remain below deaths, making immigration the only driver of population growth. Government decisions last year to scale back immigration have also contributed to the slowdown.