In the crowded Commons chamber last Wednesday, Calgary MP Michelle Rempel Garner stood to introduce petition e-4793, calling for the termination of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The move represents one of the boldest challenges yet to a program that has become both essential to many Canadian businesses and increasingly controversial among voters.
“This petition reflects growing concerns from my constituents about how the program affects both Canadian workers and the temporary workers themselves,” Rempel Garner told me during a phone interview yesterday. “We need to have an honest conversation about whether this system serves anyone’s best interests anymore.”
The petition, which has gathered over 28,000 signatures, argues the program suppresses wages for Canadian workers while creating conditions where temporary workers face potential exploitation. It calls for the government to phase out the TFWP entirely and redirect resources toward training programs for Canadians.
Critics of the petition were quick to respond. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business released a statement asserting that 62% of their members in rural communities rely on temporary foreign workers to fill critical labor shortages. “Without this program, many of our agricultural operations and service businesses would simply collapse,” said CFIB President Dan Kelly.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller appeared visibly frustrated when asked about the petition during a press scrum. “This is a complex system that requires thoughtful reform, not elimination,” Miller said. “The Conservative approach here seems to ignore the economic realities facing employers across multiple sectors.”
The TFWP has expanded significantly in recent years. Statistics Canada reported that by December 2023, there were approximately 781,000 temporary foreign workers in Canada, a 71% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Industries like agriculture, food service, and healthcare have become particularly dependent on the program.
Walking through Ottawa’s ByWard Market yesterday, I spoke with Javier Morales, who arrived from Mexico three years ago as a temporary farm worker in southwestern Ontario. “We come here for better wages, but the conditions aren’t always what we expect,” he explained while shopping for winter clothes. “Many of us live in crowded housing, work extremely long hours, and live with constant fear about our status.”
The economic arguments surrounding the program cut both ways. A 2023 report from the C.D. Howe Institute found that in regions with high concentrations of temporary foreign workers, wage growth lagged behind national averages by approximately 2.3%. However, the same report acknowledged that without these workers, certain sectors would face critical labor shortages that could threaten their viability.
Provincial perspectives on the issue vary dramatically. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has voiced support for Rempel Garner’s position, suggesting provincial governments should have greater control over immigration policies. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston warned that eliminating the program would devastate his province’s seafood processing industry, which relies heavily on seasonal foreign labor.
For Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, the petition presents yet another political challenge on immigration policy. Public opinion has shifted noticeably on the issue, with a recent Angus Reid poll showing 67% of Canadians believe immigration targets should be reduced – the highest percentage recorded in over a decade.
“The timing of this petition is no accident,” observed Lori Turnbull, political science professor at Dalhousie University. “The Conservatives see vulnerability in the government’s immigration policies, and they’re pressing that advantage ahead of the next election cycle.”
What makes the TFWP particularly controversial is how it intersects with Canada’s broader immigration debates. Unlike permanent residents or citizens, temporary foreign workers have limited pathways to permanent status, creating what critics call a “disposable workforce” system.
Sarah Doyle, who runs a family-owned restaurant in Charlottetown, explained her mixed feelings about the program. “We’ve employed temporary workers for eight years now, and they’re absolutely crucial to our business,” she told me during a recent visit to PEI. “But I also see how vulnerable they are. One of our best employees had to return to the Philippines after four years here, despite becoming part of our community. It feels wrong.”
Business groups argue that without significant reforms to Canada’s skills training infrastructure, eliminating the program would leave employers without viable alternatives. The Business Council of Canada estimates that addressing current labor shortages exclusively through domestic hiring would require an investment of over $12 billion in skills training programs.
Whether Rempel Garner’s petition will translate into formal policy remains uncertain. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has not explicitly endorsed eliminating the program but has criticized its current implementation. “We need immigration policies that prioritize Canadians first while treating newcomers with dignity,” Poilievre said at a campaign stop in Brampton last month.
As Parliament prepares to debate the petition, both sides are digging in. Minister Miller has announced plans to implement new protections for temporary workers, including enhanced workplace inspections and stronger enforcement mechanisms against employer violations.
For many Canadians, the debate reflects deeper questions about what kind of country Canada wants to be. Do we want an economy that relies on temporary workers with limited rights, or should we build systems that offer pathways to permanence for those who contribute to our communities?
The answer may ultimately depend less on ideology and more on practical realities facing communities across the country. As Lisa Patterson, mayor of a small agricultural community in southern Ontario, told me: “We can argue about the program in Ottawa all day long, but out here, we’re just trying to keep our businesses open and our community alive.”
