In a striking policy move, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called for the complete abolition of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), arguing it undermines opportunities for Canadians, particularly young workers.

At a press conference in Mississauga, Ontario, Poilievre accused Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government of catering to corporate interests while sidelining Canadian job seekers. He unveiled a “Canada First” strategy to restore economic opportunity and protect domestic workers.

Economic Concerns Driving the Push

Poilievre pointed to the sharp rise in youth unemployment, which hit 14.6% in July 2025—the highest level since 2010 outside the pandemic. He also cited broader job market struggles, with 1.6 million unemployed Canadians and nearly 400,000 in long-term unemployment.

“Young people today are generation screwed,” Poilievre said, linking the crisis to a decade of Liberal policies that he claims have doubled housing costs, driven away investment, and worsened crime.

He highlighted Ontario’s job losses—greater than during the Great Recession—as proof of government mismanagement.

Targeting the TFW Program

Poilievre’s central criticism is directed at the TFWP, which he argues floods the market with low-wage workers, displacing Canadians.

• In the first half of 2025, the Liberals approved 105,000 TFW permits, exceeding their cap of 82,000.
  
  
• Roughly three-quarters of those permits were for low-wage jobs.
  
  
• Corporations like Tim Hortons increased TFW hiring by over 1,100% in four years, while some companies offered high wages—like $36/hour at Booster Juice—exclusively to foreign hires.

“The workers themselves are not the problem,” Poilievre emphasized, “they’re being exploited by Liberal-aligned corporations at the expense of young Canadians.”

Poilievre’s Proposed Alternative

His plan calls for:

• Phasing out the TFWP entirely by allowing existing permits to expire.
  
  
• Creating a standalone agriculture program to address real shortages in farming.
  
  
• Prioritizing Canadian workers for all other sectors.

Beyond labor reform, Poilievre’s economic agenda includes cutting taxes, repealing Bill C-69, boosting resource production, and revitalizing major projects like housing, pipelines, and mining.

He also blasted Carney for failing to deliver on housing promises, pointing to a 13% decline in housing starts, and accused him of mishandling trade relations with the U.S. and China, which has hurt farmers and exporters.

Government and Industry Pushback

The Liberals defended the TFWP, stressing that arrivals actually dropped to 119,000 in 2025 from 245,000 in 2024. Of the 105,000 permits issued this year, only about one-third were for new arrivals, according to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.

Critics of Poilievre’s stance argue the program is vital for sectors like agriculture and food services, which continue to face chronic labor shortages.

Still, supporters of Poilievre’s proposal view it as an overdue correction to a system that, they say, undervalues Canadian workers during a period of high unemployment and a worsening housing crisis.

Clarifying the Immigration Debate

Poilievre stressed that his criticism is aimed at the TFW program—not immigrants themselves. He said he supports immigration that helps newcomers build lives, pay taxes, and integrate, but insists Canadian jobs must be reserved for Canadians first.

“The Canadian promise is about opportunity for everyone who contributes,” he said, while accusing Carney’s Liberals of letting “corporate elites” profit at the expense of working families.

Looking Ahead

With the next federal election looming, Poilievre’s “Canada First” message—promoting stronger take-home pay, safer streets, and secure borders—is gaining traction among frustrated voters.

He urged the Liberals to adopt his ideas, calling them “open source” policies for the good of all Canadians.

“We want every Canadian to have a chance at a great job, a beautiful life, and a home on a safe street,” Poilievre concluded.

Discussion Question:

Do you agree with Poilievre’s plan to eliminate the Temporary Foreign Worker Program?

Should Canada focus exclusively on employing its citizens first, or is the program still necessary to fill critical labor shortages?