Canada’s Conservative Party Leader, Pierre Poilievre, has called for the complete elimination of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), claiming it displaces young and working-class Canadians from the labour market.
Speaking at a press conference in Mississauga, Ontario, he said the program should be scrapped entirely, with a narrow exception for agriculture.
Poilievre announced as part of his “Canada First” economic plan, which is centred on prioritising Canadian workers amid growing unemployment and economic uncertainty. According to Immigration News Canada, he said the current use of the TFWP benefits corporations at the expense of domestic workers and contributes to a broader economic decline.
Rising Unemployment Among Youth
Poilievre harped on recent labour data showing that youth unemployment for Canadians aged 15-24 reached 14.6% in July 2025—the highest rate since 2010, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic. He also noted that 1.6 million Canadians are unemployed, with nearly 400,000 out of work for more than two years.
“Young people today are generation screwed,” he said, blaming Liberal economic policies for rising costs, reduced job opportunities, and declining investment.
Concerns Over Foreign Worker Permits
Central to Poilievre’s proposal is the claim that the TFWP has outgrown its original purpose. He cited federal figures showing that the Liberal government issued 105,000 TFW permits in the first half of 2025, exceeding its stated cap of 82,000.
According to Poilievre, 75% of these workers were hired for low-wage jobs, creating downward pressure on wages and reducing opportunities for Canadians. He pointed to data indicating that companies such as Tim Hortons increased TFW hiring by over 1,100% in four years.
He accused employers of exploiting the system to access cheaper labour while denying jobs to Canadian citizens. “The Liberals are shutting our own youth out of jobs and replacing them with low-wage temporary foreign workers,” he said.
Proposed Changes and Broader Economic Policy
Poilievre’s plan includes phasing out the TFWP by letting current permits expire and banning new low-wage entries under the program. He proposed a separate, targeted initiative to address labour shortages in the agricultural sector.
His wider economic platform includes:
Cutting taxes, repealing federal legislation like Bill C-69, and increasing domestic production of energy and resources.
Poilievre criticised Prime Minister Mark Carney for failing to meet housing and infrastructure goals, citing a projected 13% decline in housing starts and stalled progress on national projects.
He also criticised Carney’s handling of trade relations, particularly with the U.S. and China. He referenced a missed deadline for a new U.S. trade deal and said $62 billion in net investment has left the country since Carney took office.
Government Response and Debate
The Liberal government has defended the TFWP as a necessary support for businesses facing labour shortages. Immigration Minister Lena Diab said the number of TFW arrivals has declined from 245,000 in 2024 to 119,000 in 2025. She added that only 33,722 of the 105,000 permits issued in 2025 were for new arrivals.
Critics of Poilievre’s plan argue that the TFWP remains essential in sectors like food service and agriculture, where Canadian workers are often unavailable.
Poilievre clarified that his critique does not target immigrants who come to Canada permanently, but rather the structure of temporary labour programs. “The Canadian promise is about opportunity for all who contribute,” he said.
With a federal election approaching, Poilievre’s proposal is part of a broader push to frame the Conservatives as defenders of Canadian jobs and economic self-sufficiency.
