Overview

• Pierre Poilievre urged the government to stop issuing new TFW permits and wind down the program, proposing a separate stream for agricultural labour and a transition period of up to five years in ultra‑low‑unemployment regions.
• Conservatives say roughly 105,000 permits were issued in the first half of 2025 against a target of 82,000 entries, while the government says only 33,722 new workers arrived January–June and the larger figure includes renewals.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney said the program still has a role and is under review, noting business leaders rank access to temporary foreign workers as a top concern after U.S. tariffs.
• Recent federal tightening includes refusing low‑wage hires in regions with 6% or higher unemployment, capping low‑wage TFWs at 10% of an employer’s workforce, and reducing maximum low‑wage job terms to one year.
• The clash comes as youth unemployment pressures rise and population growth slows, with industry groups warning that an abrupt shutdown would strain hiring in sectors such as agriculture, retail, and restaurants.