Poilievre Claims Liberals Let Temporary Foreign Workers Take Jobs from Canadians

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre escalated a sharp fight over Canada’s temporary migration system this week, accusing the Liberal government of letting temporary foreign workers take jobs from Canadians amid rising youth unemployment. He spoke on August 27, 2025, saying Ottawa has blown past its own caps for work permits, calling the system “out of control.” Hours later, the government pointed to fewer arrivals in the first half of the year and argued that tighter rules are taking hold.

The dispute has widened a months‑long debate over immigration and labor policies, housing pressures, and how to match workers to jobs without shutting out young Canadians.

What’s at the center: the temporary programs and the numbers

At the core of the clash is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which requires employers to show no Canadians are available before hiring from abroad.

• Ottawa set a new cap for 2025 of 82,000 TFWP permits.
• Federal data released in August shows 105,195 TFWP permits were issued between January and June—more than 20% over the target.

The International Mobility Program (IMP)—which covers open and employer‑specific work permits that don’t require an LMIA—also ran hot:

• 302,280 IMP permits were issued by mid‑year, above a 285,750 plan.

These mid‑year numbers, posted later than usual, fueled questions about whether Ottawa’s new controls are being enforced fast enough and whether employers are still turning to foreign staff while many young Canadians seek work.

Government response and context

The Liberal government argues the flow of newcomers on temporary status has eased in 2025 compared with the same period last year.

• The number of temporary foreign workers entering in H1 2025 fell to 119,000, down from more than 245,000 in 2024 (per an Immigration Minister spokesperson).
• International student permits dropped from 245,055 (H1 2024) to 149,860 (H1 2025).
• Temporary workers now make up about 80% of new arrivals in 2025, up from 70% in 2024.

That shift underscores labor demand in key sectors and raises the question of whether the current mix of temporary residents fits the economy’s needs—or displaces Canadian workers.

Policy changes leading up to the showdown

Key policy moves since late 2024 set the stage:

1. On September 26, 2024, Ottawa suspended LMIA processing for the low‑wage stream of the TFWP in Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) with unemployment above 6%.
2. On November 8, 2024, the government raised wage requirements for high‑wage TFW streams.
3. For 2025, Ottawa set explicit caps across temporary categories and trimmed Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) spots by 50%.

The measures aimed to slow demand for foreign labor where local job markets are weaker, push employers to offer better pay, and ease pressure on housing and public services.

Political arguments and public concerns

• Poilievre contends high youth unemployment should prevent employers from turning to foreign hires in many fields, arguing Ottawa is failing to protect entry‑level jobs.
• Critics add that some TFW streams can hold wages down and that the LMIA process sometimes grants approvals even when Canadians are available.
• The government says LMIAs are only issued when needed and highlights measures curbing low‑wage hiring in cities with higher jobless rates.

The broader policy question: how to use temporary programs to fill genuine gaps while keeping guardrails to protect local workers, especially those starting their careers.

Housing pressures and the 5% target

Housing concerns drove much of the reset. After record population growth in 2023–2024, public anxiety over rents and home prices rose.

• Ottawa’s plan: shrink the temporary resident share to 5% of the national population by the end of 2026, and tighten entry rules for both temporary foreign workers and international students.
• Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests this is a pivot away from rapid, broad‑based intake toward a tighter system linking permits more closely to proven labor shortages and local capacity.

Whether that pivot reduces housing pressure while keeping the economy running is the key test ahead.

Sectoral impacts: where temporary workers are most needed

Temporary foreign workers play major roles in several essential sectors:

• Agriculture: seasonal crews for planting, harvesting, processing.
• Construction: skilled trades shortages in many regions.
• Caregiving: both long‑term care and in‑home care rely on trained workers often hired through the TFWP.

Supporters say these cases show the program fills urgent gaps. Critics argue sectors should raise wages, improve working conditions, and invest in Canadian training before hiring abroad. Regional and job‑type differences mean the right approach varies by location.

Data timing, transparency, and planning

Delayed mid‑year data release from IRCC in August 2025 became a flashpoint. The TFWP and IMP totals running ahead of plan despite new restrictions sparked calls for faster, clearer reporting.

Transparency matters for policy credibility. If Ottawa says the tap is turning down, Canadians—and employers—need to see the proof in real time.

Quicker data helps workforce planners—from colleges to small businesses—decide whether to recruit domestically or pursue foreign hires under precise rules.

How rules affect employers and workers in practice

• LMIA suspensions in CMAs with 6%+ unemployment block the low‑wage route in those areas, aiming to give local candidates first shot.
• Higher wage bars for high‑wage streams are meant to prevent employers from using foreign hiring to suppress pay.
• If caps are exceeded early, late‑season applicants face refusals or long waits, and companies may cut hours or delay projects.

Employers need early signals to plan planting, harvesting, and shipping cycles. A clear monthly cap tracker would help them adjust orders, training, and staff housing.

The PNP cuts and longer-term effects

• The 50% PNP reduction in 2025 led provinces to re‑rank priorities; some negotiated for more spots, others narrowed or paused streams.
• With fewer PNP seats, more workers remain on temporary status longer, increasing churn as permits expire and renewals stack up.
• This churn unsettles families and employers and complicates planning, undermining the perceived path from temporary work to permanent residence.

Youth unemployment and public trust

When entry‑level jobs are scarce, the perception that temporary foreign workers fill roles students or recent graduates could do fuels anger.

• The government emphasizes LMIA checks and the pause on low‑wage LMIAs in high‑unemployment CMAs to back that claim.
• But if young jobseekers face repeated rejections while businesses receive permission to hire abroad, skepticism rises.
• Careful LMIA decisions and timely feedback are crucial to public trust.

Practical takeaways and recommended actions

For employers:
– Plan early and document Canadian recruitment efforts.
– Post jobs widely, hold interviews, and keep records.
– Check local unemployment rates if considering the low‑wage stream.
– Be prepared to meet higher wage floors for high‑wage roles.
– For seasonal needs, build backup timelines or stagger hiring in case caps tighten.

For Canadian jobseekers:
– Focus on sectors with steady demand: food processing, construction, care work.
– Ask employers about training paths that can increase pay and skills over time.

For official guidance, see the federal portal at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Inside Canada, call 1‑888‑242‑2100 for IRCC help; employers can reach Employment and Social Development Canada at 1‑800‑367‑5693 for TFWP questions.

Key numbers at a glance

What to watch next

• Whether fall approvals slow and year‑end totals land under plan—indicating the tighter system is working.
• Or whether numbers keep running ahead of targets—raising pressure for tougher steps (deeper LMIA limits, stricter screening on LMIA‑exempt streams).
• Provincial pushes to restore PNP capacity, especially in health care and trades.
• Each monthly data release will be closely scrutinized for signs that caps are being enforced.

Closing perspective

Poilievre’s message resonates with young Canadians frustrated by tight housing and tough early careers. The government’s message appeals to employers and families relying on steady staffing. Both speak to real anxieties.

The policy question is not whether Canada needs foreign workers but: how many, in which jobs, at what wages, and where, while ensuring young Canadians can access fair opportunities. Success will look like a system that feels fair, clear, and grounded in real labor needs—where students find first jobs, farmers can hire crews in time, care homes staff all shifts, and data is published on schedule so everyone can see the full picture.

The mid‑year numbers and the politics around them show the distance left to travel—and how closely Canada will watch each new release before the year is out.