Friday, May 23, 2025

Should We Scrap the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)?

A Conservative MP Wants to End the Temporary Foreign Worker Program – Here’s Why That Matters

A new petition has been launched by a Conservative MP calling for an end to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)—and honestly, it's something we need to talk about.

I believe this program has been horribly abused. Many employers use it to avoid paying fair wages or offering decent working conditions. And while the idea was to fill labor shortages, the reality has often been exploitation.

Yes, it’s true: people coming here are escaping difficult conditions, but that doesn't mean it's fair to let employers take advantage of them or use them to suppress wages for everyone else.

So what would happen if we ended the program? Here’s a breakdown:


CURRENT NUMBERS
As of the end of 2023:

  • 1.27 million temporary foreign workers in Canada (a 300% increase since 2015).
  • Of those, about 188,000 are under the TFWP (mostly in agriculture, caregiving, and food processing).
  • That’s roughly 6.25% of Canada’s total workforce.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF ENDING THE PROGRAM

  • More jobs open to Canadians and permanent residents
  • Pressure on employers to offer better wages and working conditions
  • Less abuse and exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers
  • Shift toward permanent immigration and stronger community roots

BUT THERE ARE RISKS TOO:

  • Labor shortages in key industries
  • Higher prices for goods and services (especially food)
  • More under-the-table work and black-market hiring
  • Disruption for people who came here legally under this system

SO WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
Instead of scrapping the TFWP entirely, we could:

  • Crack down on abusive employers
  • Turn temporary pathways into permanent immigration options
  • Invest in training and support for Canadians to do these jobs
  • Cap usage and monitor it by region and industry need

Canada needs a serious conversation about how we treat all workers. Maybe this petition will spark it. But we need thoughtful, fair, and long-term solutions—not just quick fixes.

Let me know what you think.

—Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
#TFWP #CanadaJobs #WorkersRights #TinaWinterlik #Zipolita


No comments: