Did Canada Exceed Work Permit Targets Under the TFWP? A Closer Look at the Facts
Overview
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has recently claimed that the federal government issued more work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) than allowed by its planned “cap” for 2025. However, a closer review of the government’s official data reveals that this statement is misleading.
Understanding the Claim
- Poilievre’s Statement:
- Claimed that 105,000 new TFWP permits were issued in the first half of 2025.
- Compared this figure to the planned target of 82,000 permits.
- Suggested that the Liberal government, under PM Mark Carney, has already overshot its cap.
- Reality Check:
- The 82,000 figure is not a cap; it is a target for new arrivals in 2025.
- The 105,000 permits issued Jan–June 2025 includes:
- Extensions and renewals of existing permits.
- Permits for workers already inside Canada.
- Only 33,722 permits were for new arrivals, representing about 41% of the annual target.
Decline in New Arrivals
Government data indicates that reforms introduced in 2024 are working:
- New temporary worker arrivals dropped by 50% in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
- Between Jan–June 2025, Canada admitted 125,903 fewer foreign workers than in 2024.
Government Measures to Reduce Temporary Residents
The government has committed to reducing the share of temporary residents to 5% of Canada’s population by 2026. Key measures introduced in 2024 include:
- Shortened LMIA validity: reduced from 12 months to 6 months.
- Lowered employer workforce cap:
- From 30% to 20% (except priority sectors like healthcare & construction).
- From 20% to 10% for the low-wage stream.
- Shorter maximum employment duration: 1 year (down from 2 years) under low-wage stream.
- Moratorium on low-wage LMIA processing in high-unemployment regions (6%+ jobless rate).
- Higher wage threshold: Employers in the high-wage stream must now offer pay at least 20% above the provincial/territorial median wage.
- Stricter employer compliance checks: No longer allowed to use attestations from accountants or lawyers to prove legitimacy.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) – At a Glance
- Introduced: 1973.
- Purpose: Help employers fill labour shortages with foreign talent.
- Administered by: IRCC & ESDC.
- LMIA Requirement: Employers must prove no negative impact on domestic labour.
Main TFWP Streams
| Stream | Description |
|---|---|
| Global Talent Stream | For employers hiring in-demand, highly skilled roles. |
| Permanent Residence Stream | Supports workers seeking PR with valid job offers. |
| High-Wage Stream | For jobs at/above median wage (20% higher threshold applies from Nov 2025). |
| Low-Wage Stream | For jobs below median wage (processing paused in some regions). |
| Primary Agriculture | For hiring farm/agriculture workers. |
| Caregiver Program | For in-home caregivers. |
| Foreign Academic Positions | For teaching and research jobs in Canadian universities. |
What Lies Ahead for the TFWP?
- Prime Minister Mark Carney defended the program, acknowledging employer dependence on temporary workers.
- Carney admitted that the program is under review but stressed that temporary foreign workers are not the main driver of immigration.
- He emphasized that businesses — particularly in Quebec — rank labour access as a top concern.
Quick Comparison – Claim vs. Reality
| Poilievre’s Claim | Government Data (Reality) |
|---|---|
| 105,000 new permits issued Jan–June 2025 = exceeding 82,000 cap | 105,000 includes renewals & extensions. Only 33,722 new arrivals. |
| 82,000 is a cap | 82,000 is a target, not a cap. |
| Liberals overshooting TFWP numbers | Government is actually reducing temporary resident arrivals — down 50% in 2025. |
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