Canadians Losing Faith in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

When Canadians talk about the country’s housing crunch, rising inequality, or the difficulties young people face finding work, one federal program is increasingly at the center of the conversation: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

A new Angus Reid Institute survey shows a decisive shift in how the public sees the TFWP. What was once considered a practical solution for labour shortages is now regarded with suspicion.

Sympathy for Workers, Frustration With the System

Interestingly, most Canadians don’t blame the workers themselves. Nearly six in ten (58%) believe foreign workers are unfairly made scapegoats for broader economic challenges. Instead, frustration is directed at how the program is structured, monitored, and enforced.

Critics point to recurring cases of abuse. Between April and October 2024, inspections revealed that 11% of employers were non-compliant, and 20 companies were banned. Human rights groups and even a 2023 UN report have accused Canada of enabling exploitation, though the federal government has strongly rejected claims that the program resembles “modern slavery.”

Half of Canadians believe TFWs are mistreated by employers, while 45% think Ottawa itself is guilty of exploiting them.

Public Opinion Tilting Negative

The Angus Reid data show a public mood that has hardened. Just 23% of Canadians have a favourable view of the TFWP, while 52% now view it unfavourably.

The discontent crosses party lines. Conservative voters are the most hostile with seven in ten opposed but Liberal supporters aren’t far behind, with only a third offering approval and another quarter neutral. Even reforms introduced in 2014, which created separate streams for high-wage and low-wage workers, appear to have done little to repair confidence.

Knowledge seems to fuel criticism: among the minority of Canadians (19%) who describe themselves as highly familiar with the TFWP, 73% take a negative view.

 

Numbers That Don’t Add Up for the Public

From January to June 2025, Canada issued over 105,000 permits under the program, including renewals. Immigration Minister Lena Diab stresses that new permits actually dropped by 125,000 compared to 2024, but this hasn’t eased concerns.

A majority 55% believe too many foreign workers are coming in, while a quarter say the numbers are about right. Only 9% want more.

Geography matters: Alberta (71%) and Saskatchewan show the strongest pushback, while Quebec is less critical, with only 37% saying the intake is excessive. That difference may stem from Quebec’s agricultural sector and its unique authority over immigration agreements.

 

Economic Pressures and a Divided Generation

The poll also shows that the program is widely seen as deepening economic problems:

• 66% say it worsens housing affordability
  
  
• 61% think it makes life harder for young jobseekers
  
  
• 54% believe it hurts the wider labour market
  
  

Generational divides are evident. Older Canadians (65+) are noticeably more sympathetic to the program, while younger Canadians more directly affected by job competition and housing costs are the most critical.

 

Would Canadians Take These Jobs?

One of the thorniest questions is whether Canadians, particularly young people, would accept the kinds of jobs filled by TFWs. The program requires employers to secure a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), proving no Canadian is available to do the work.

But doubts persist. Critics like BC Premier David Eby and CPC leader Pierre Poilievre accuse the program of blocking opportunities for Canadian youth. Yet, half of Canadians admit it’s unlikely that young workers would be eager to take up roles in agriculture, caregiving, or low-wage service industries.

Support for Permanent Pathways Shrinking

Even sympathy for the workers themselves does not translate into support for letting them stay permanently. In 2024, 36% of Canadians backed a path to citizenship or permanent residence for temporary workers. A year later, that figure has dropped to 30%.

The decline likely reflects wider anxiety about immigration levels, housing supply, and Canada’s ability to integrate newcomers.

 

A Program at a Crossroads

The Angus Reid survey reveals a nation conflicted: compassionate toward workers, but deeply mistrustful of the system that brings them here. The TFWP is now seen by many as a driver of housing shortages, wage suppression, and youth unemployment—while also being accused of leaving vulnerable workers open to abuse.

The federal government faces a difficult balancing act. Immigration remains vital to Canada’s economy and demographics, but without visible reforms, public opinion may continue shifting against temporary labour altogether.

 

Key Insights at a Glance

• Public mood: 52% negative, 23% positive.
  
  
• Biggest worries: housing costs (66%), youth unemployment (61%), labour market impacts (54%).
  
  
• Regional divide: Prairies most critical, Quebec least.
  
  
• Exploitation concerns: 50% say workers mistreated by employers.
  
  
• Permanent residency support: 30%, down from 36% in 2024.
  
  
• Generational gap: seniors more supportive, younger Canadians more critical.

FAQ:

1. What is the TFWP?

A program allowing Canadian employers to hire foreign workers when no Canadians are available.

2. Why are Canadians unhappy with it?

They believe it worsens housing costs and job competition.

3. Do Canadians blame the workers?

No, most blame the system, not the workers.

4. How many permits were issued in 2025?

Over 105,000 from January to June, including renewals.

5. Where is opposition strongest?

In Alberta and Saskatchewan.

6. What’s the main concern about the program?

Abuse of workers and lack of oversight.