Government of Canada Introduces Reforms to Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Gatineau, Quebec – The Canadian government has announced new reforms to its Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, aimed at improving protections for workers and prioritizing the hiring of Canadian employees. Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, revealed the changes in response to growing concerns over the misuse of the program and the need for stronger labour market integrity.
One of the key reforms, set to take effect on November 8, 2024, will raise the starting hourly wage for foreign workers entering through the high-wage stream by 20%, based on the median wage in the province or territory of employment. This increase, amounting to an additional $5 to $8 per hour depending on the region, reflects a significant boost from the current wage threshold. The change is expected to shift more job openings into the low-wage stream, which has stricter requirements for employers, including housing, transportation, and domestic worker recruitment obligations.
“By raising the threshold for high-wage stream positions, we are supporting wage growth for Canadians,” said Minister Boissonnault, emphasizing the importance of protecting temporary foreign workers while prioritizing the hiring of Canadian workers.
In his address at the 21st Century Workforce Summit on October 17, 2024, Minister Boissonnault also noted the availability of untapped talent pools within the Canadian labour force, particularly among underrepresented groups such as youth, Indigenous persons, women, and persons with disabilities. According to the minister, these groups face higher unemployment rates, making it crucial to prioritize domestic hiring.
The reforms also introduce tighter scrutiny of employer eligibility. As of October 28, 2024, businesses can no longer use attestations from accountants or lawyers to demonstrate their legitimacy. Instead, the program will rely on enhanced information-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial governments to verify job offers, helping to prevent misuse and fraud.
The government remains vigilant in monitoring the TFW Program to ensure that it meets Canada’s labour needs while preventing exploitation. Minister Boissonnault stressed that further adjustments would be made if necessary to maintain program integrity.
This move is part of a broader government effort to protect the Canadian economy and ensure that the TFW Program is used as intended — to fill labour gaps only when qualified Canadian workers are not available.
