Currently the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is one of the most important lifelines to Canada’s health-care industry that is facing some of the worst ever workforce shortages. From 2000 to 2020, the number of temp foreign workers in health care increased by 28 times. They soared from only 3,200 in 2000 to a staggering 57,500 by 2022. This influx of workers has allowed the sector to manage immediate staffing needs while supporting the overall health system.
In nursing and residential care facilities, temporary foreign workers make up nearly one-third of the workforce. In home health-care services, this number shoots up to almost 8%. The growing dependence on these workers underscores the acute, continued need for staff in an industry that has suffered from chronic labor shortfalls.
The federal government is very keen to see domestic staff trained. They do an incredible job too at recruiting Canadian citizens and permanent residents to fill these spaces. Mila Roy, an expert in workforce policy, stated, “Ultimately, while the TFW Program can help address immediate, short-term staffing pressures in high-need areas like health care, it is not intended to replace long-term, sustainable workforce strategies aimed at developing and retaining Canadian talent in the sector.”
Despite all of these benefits, the TFWP has been heavily criticized. Human rights advocates contend that the program leads to exploitative labor practices. It gives employers the power to slash labor costs, exposing employees to increased chances of exploitation and discrimination. Cenen Bagon voiced concerns about exploitation within the program, stating, “If David Eby actually cared about stopping the exploitation and abuse inherent in temporary foreign worker programs, he would be joining migrant-led groups in calling for permanent resident status on arrival for all.”
On the upside, a not insignificant number of temporary foreign health care workers find their way to permanent residency. About 60% are still in the industry five years after receiving permanent status. That number covers a period from January 2023 to June 2025 and allows Canada to admit an additional 10,025 temporary foreign workers in health care as permanent residents. This trend highlights the program’s success in keeping high-quality professionals in the pipeline.
The TFWP has played a significant role in shaping the health-care landscape, particularly in more specialized areas of care. Currently, only about one-third of temporary foreign workers make the move to permanent residency. When you look at the agriculture sector, that number falls to a mere 17%. Stacey Fitzsimmons, an associate professor at the University of Victoria, remarked on the significance of this trend: “It means we’re bringing people in who we value and we think are going to be important to filling vacant roles.”
Feng Hou pointed out that “there are still significant shortages in the health-care system,” emphasizing that temporary foreign workers play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges. “What it shows is that temporary foreign workers, particularly in the health-care system, are just one of many ways we can rely on to address that,” he noted.
Yet the federal government of Canada persists in using the TFWP as one facet of its plan to strengthen the health-care workforce. As indicated by an official source, the program is “one of several tools the Government of Canada has to protect the Canadian economy, support Canadian business and to respond to labour market needs.”
