Conservative MP Jamil Jivani started a petition to abolish the temporary foreign worker program. He points to worries surrounding its adverse effects on employment opportunities and wage rates for Canadians. In addition, Ottawa is bringing in 82,000 temporary foreign workers each year from 2025 to 2027. This decision has caused one of the most fiery controversies ever seen between disputing environmental, public health, labor, and business stakeholders.
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, stated that the government is actively consulting with labor and industry groups regarding potential changes to the program. She reiterated that the program in no way displaces Canadian talent. Rather, it hopes to shed light on its role in the national labor market.
Jivani’s petition shines a spotlight on what he calls a “big driver” of a dangerously high level of immigration that US can’t sustain. He continues, the temporary foreign worker program robs Canadians of jobs. On top of that, he thinks it serves to depress wages, particularly important as youth unemployment keeps spiking. Statistics Canada’s May jobs report confirms what was already known to be a shocking statistic. In April, the unemployment for those between 15 to 24 years old jumped to 14 percent.
In his petition, Jivani focuses on a new federal action. First, they are acting unlawfully by refusing to process applications for temporary foreign workers in metropolitan areas where unemployment is at least six percent. The promise is to temporarily eliminate job shortages for Canadians with a focus on young workers.
Jivani, for his part, is now operating on his own even without a formal critic role under the Conservatives. Here’s the thing—despite his stance, he’s on a very isolated island. Michelle Rempel Garner and Garnett Genuis are the immigration and employment critics, respectively. Their lack of support for the petition indicates that there are still important varied voices within the party that see the need for different immigration policy.
Jivani responded to Hajdu’s remarks on his government petition. He noted that there is deep bipartisan consensus across the political spectrum on the need to reduce immigration simply because it’s “just unsustainably high.” His concerns were given high-profile recognition as discussions are underway about what the future of Canada’s labour market will look like.
“There’s a pretty clear consensus, even across people with different political views, that immigration levels are just unsustainably high.” – Jamil Jivani
Hajdu’s first answer to Jivani’s petition was to say that Andrew Scheer is wrong for not appointing him to his shadow cabinet. This notable omission suggests that there may be some internal party dynamics brewing. Last year, the federal government announced plans to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers admitted to Canada. This decision underscores a broader move toward more restrictive immigration enforcement at every level.
The Conservatives did not respond to requests for comment about Jivani’s petition. That silence begs the question as to how it affects their overall immigration strategy. As discussions continue, stakeholders remain divided over the balance between filling labor shortages and protecting job opportunities for Canadian citizens.
