Canada tightening rules for Temporary Foreign Worker program
The changes include a ban on TFWs in cities with unemployment rates over 6%
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Canada will be reducing its reliance on low-wage workers imported from abroad as Canadians struggle through the ongoing affordability crisis.
On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new measures to dial back the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program, urging Canadian businesses to hire Canadian workers instead.
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“Two years ago, in the aftermath of the pandemic and facing severe labour shortages, we adjusted the program for temporary foreign workers — that’s what the business community needed, and that’s what the business community was asking for,” Trudeau told reporters ahead of the beginning of the government’s annual cabinet retreat in Halifax.
“At that moment of time, those changes helped. They helped the economy, and they helped businesses make it through a challenging moment in our economic recovery.”
But as the economy soured and Canadians were hit with an inflation-fuelled affordability crisis, Trudeau said Canada doesn’t need as many foreign workers as it once did.
“We need Canadian businesses to invest in training and technology, and not increasing their reliance on low-cost foreign labour.”
Effective Monday, Canada will begin refusing TFW applications in cities with unemployment rates of 6% or higher — with exemptions for the agriculture, fishery and food processing industries, as well as construction and health care.
As well, employers will be restricted to hiring only 10% of their current workforce through the TFW program, again with the same exemptions.
Terms of employment will also be constricted, with TFWs hired through the program’s low-wage stream reduced to two years to just one.
“We know that there are more Canadians qualified to fill open positions,” said Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault.
“The changes we are making today will prioritize Canadians workers and ensures Canadians can trust the program is meeting the needs of our economy.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
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