Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre Demands End to Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the federal Liberal government to dismantle Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program, saying it shuts Canadians – particularly young people – out of the labour market and enables the exploitation of low-wage labour from abroad. Speaking in Mississauga on September 3, 2025, alongside Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner, Poilievre said, “Canadian jobs will go to Canadian workers,” under a Conservative plan to stop issuing new TFW visas and wind down existing permits entirely.

On This Page You Will Find

• Pierre Poilievre’s plan to scrap the TFWP
• Reactions from Liberals, farmers, and business leaders
• IRCC immigration figures for 2025
• Criticism from migrant rights organisations
• Potential political impact heading into the next election

Conservative Plan Would Scrap the Program and Replace it With Agricultural Stream

The Conservative Party outlined a plan to eliminate the current TFW system and replace it with a “separate, standalone program for legitimately difficult-to-fill agricultural labour.” Poilievre said the move would “protect our youth and workers” while addressing genuine needs in the agriculture sector. He criticised the Liberals for “shutting our own youth out of jobs and replacing them with low wage temporary foreign workers from poor countries who are ultimately being exploited.”

Poilievre added that “these workers should not be demonised” but instead recognised as victims of a system where “they are being taken advantage of.” He noted that nearly three-quarters of TFWs work in jobs that pay below-average wages, suggesting this undermines the Canadian workforce.

TFWP in Historical Context

The TFWP has existed since the early 1970s and has undergone several reforms. In 2014, the Harper government introduced new rules requiring businesses to prove they could not find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident before hiring a TFW. Poilievre, who was employment minister at the time, defended those changes as necessary to protect domestic workers.

Statistics Canada has reported a “large increase” in the number of temporary foreign workers in recent years, partly due to growth in study permit holders. However, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data show the number of TFWs entering Canada declined in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. According to IRCC spokesperson Isabelle Dubois, “Canada remains on track to sustainably manage temporary resident levels as outlined in the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan.”

Liberals Signal Review, Not Removal

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the TFWP “has a role” but acknowledged it “has to be focused in terms of its role.” He confirmed that the program is under review as part of the government’s broader immigration strategy. Carney added that the government aims to reduce the overall level of immigration as a proportion of the population, “from around seven per cent today to around five per cent several years from now.”

Strong Opposition From Industry and Small Business

Business and agricultural leaders reacted swiftly and critically to the Conservative proposal. Keith Currie, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, said temporary foreign workers are “vitally important to food production and food security” in Canada. He acknowledged the program needs improvement but argued that “instead of just throwing it out,” the government should “bring everybody up to those standards.”

Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, described the idea of ending the program as “ridiculous” and said it was “completely divorced from what’s happening in the labour market across the country.” He pointed out that labour needs vary significantly by region and sector, and said it’s unrealistic to expect that an unemployed autoworker in Ontario could fill a restaurant position in rural Saskatchewan. Kelly added that “the temporary foreign worker program is one of the few immigration streams that small businesses can use to bring a specific person in for a specific job in their community.”

Migrant Advocates Accuse Poilievre of Division

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change Executive Director Syed Hussan accused Poilievre of using immigration as a wedge issue. He said the Conservative leader “is simply trying to get back into the game after losing the federal election, and he’s doing so on the backs of migrants.” Hussan argued that Poilievre is “trying to create xenophobia, racism and division” and distract from the corporate elite, who he claims are the real cause of Canada’s economic challenges. He also rejected the idea that temporary foreign workers are the reason for youth unemployment, saying it is the result of policy failures by both Liberal and Conservative governments.

A Political Flashpoint Ahead of the Next Election

Poilievre’s proposal has reignited debate over the role of temporary foreign workers in Canada’s labour market. While some Canadians may welcome the promise to prioritise local hiring, others warn that dismantling the program would create major disruptions in agriculture, food service, hospitality, and other sectors that rely on foreign workers. As the Liberals consider reforms, the future of the TFWP is likely to become a key issue in the next federal election.

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