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The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is a large contributor to Canada's immigration system getting out of control with unsustainable immigration levels. The TFWP is taking jobs away from Canadians and holding down the wages of Canadian workers. 
  • From January to October 2024, over 160,000 new work permits were issued under the TFWP. 
  • Canadian Economists have observed that the availability of temporary foreign workers provides an opportunity for businesses to hire foreign workers for lower wages and unfavorable working conditions. 
  • Ironworkers Union (Local 97) has called on the federal government to immediately end the TFWP and instead invest in Canadian workers and protect Canadian jobs. 
  • Youth unemployment in Canada (ages 15 to 24) rose from about 9% in 2022 to over 14% in 2024—the highest level in more than a decade, excluding the COVID-19 period. In Toronto, the number of unemployed youth jumped 50% in two years, surpassing 120,000. 
  • The TFWP has led to a sharp rise in foreign workers in youth-dominated sectors like food service and retail. In Ontario, Tim Hortons hired at least 714 temporary foreign workers in 2023, up from just 58 in 2019. This surge has increased competition for entry-level jobs, making it harder for young Canadians to find work. 
  • For the sake of Canada's agricultural industry, the fraction of TFW's classified as seasonal agricultural workers should be treated as a separate program and not lumped in with the broader TFWP that leads to the suppression of Canadian wages. 
To foster a brighter future for the Canadian workforce, we, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to stand with Canadian workers and put an immediate end to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program.