Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that his government is preparing new reforms to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Carney said the program must become more targeted, focusing on specific industries and regional labour needs.
While no details were provided, this continues a trend of restrictions introduced over the past year and a half. These measures have included a cap of 82,000 net new TFWP admissions for 2025, a moratorium on low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) in regions with unemployment above 6 percent, and a higher wage threshold for the high-wage stream. Other changes lowered employer caps on TFWP hires and narrowed access to spousal open work permits, limiting them to spouses of workers in top-demand occupations.
Government data shows that between January and June 2025, overall work permit issuances dropped by half compared to the same period in 2024. In that time, only 33,722 net new TFWP permits were approved.
Opposition parties have criticized the program, with Conservatives calling for its elimination, claiming it limits job opportunities for Canadians. The government argues that reforms will make the program more strategic, ensuring it supports the economy while protecting Canadian workers.
