Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the Liberal government to shut down Canada’s temporary foreign worker program, arguing that it denies opportunities to young Canadians and enables the exploitation of migrants. Speaking in Mississauga on Wednesday alongside Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner, Poilievre vowed that under his plan, no new visas would be issued and existing permits would be wound down until the program is eliminated. He said the Conservatives would instead create a separate agricultural labour stream for jobs deemed truly difficult to fill.
“The Liberals have to answer: why are they 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 said, accusing the government of having “broken” Canada’s immigration system. While defending reforms made under the Harper government—when he served as employment minister—Poilievre dismissed employers’ claims that the program is essential, suggesting it allows businesses to avoid paying fair wages.
The proposal has sparked strong reactions. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that while the program “has a role,” it needs to be more targeted and is currently under review as part of a broader immigration strategy. Carney emphasized his government’s commitment to reducing overall immigration levels over time. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture pushed back on Poilievre’s position, with president Keith Currie calling foreign workers “vitally important” to food production and food security. Dan Kelly, head of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, described eliminating the program as “ridiculous,” warning that many local economies depend on it to fill jobs Canadians are unwilling or unable to take.
Advocates for migrant workers also criticized Poilievre’s remarks. Syed Hussan of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change accused him of stoking division for political gain. “He’s trying to create xenophobia, racism and division, attacking migrants to distract from those truly responsible for the crisis—the corporate elite,” Hussan said, arguing that both Liberal and Conservative governments share responsibility for high youth unemployment.
Statistics Canada reports that the number of temporary foreign workers has risen in recent years, though much of that increase is linked to international students with or without work permits. Immigration officials note the number of temporary foreign workers arriving in Canada actually declined in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year, in line with a federal plan to manage temporary resident levels.
The temporary foreign worker program, introduced in the 1970s, has long been a flashpoint in debates about immigration, labour shortages, and wages. Poilievre’s push to scrap it altogether ensures the issue will be a contentious one in the months ahead.