Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program is intended as a special measure to be used only when a qualified Canadian cannot fill a job vacancy. Employers who hire temporary foreign workers must provide a healthy and safe workplace, treating employees with dignity and respect. This program aims to fill gaps in the workforce while maintaining high standards of employment conditions.
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages, met with representatives from Canada’s largest business associations to emphasize that the TFW Program should not be used to avoid hiring capable Canadian workers. He conveyed the federal government’s commitment to addressing misuse and fraud within the system, ensuring the program’s integrity and proper application.
Minister Boissonnault outlined measures to reduce reliance on temporary foreign workers, including enforcing the 20% cap policy, stricter oversight in high-risk areas, possible increases to LMIA fees, new regulatory changes for employer eligibility, refusing to process applications under the low-wage stream, and modernizing the TFW Program with a new foreign labour stream for Agriculture and Fish & Seafood Processing, as outlined in Budget 2022.
The actions highlighted are in addition to previous changes that improved employer inspections, leading to a 36% increase in fines issued in the 2023–2024 fiscal year. More efforts are needed to protect the Canadian labour market and hold violators accountable. The Minister plans to monitor the program closely and engage with employers to ensure they understand their responsibilities, demonstrating the Government of Canada’s commitment to maintaining the program’s integrity.
References:
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2024/08/minister-boissonnault-announces-new-measures-to-address-fraud-in-canadas-temporary-foreign-worker-program.html
