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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Revised Canadian policy eases job transitions for foreign workers
In a significant move aimed at better utilizing the skills of temporary foreign workers already within the country, the Canadian government has introduced a new temporary public policy. This initiative that was signed on March 4, comes into force from May 27. It allows foreign nationals in Canada to change jobs more quickly, even before their new work permit application is fully processed. Previously, foreign workers seeking to switch employers or occupations often faced lengthy delays, sometimes several weeks, while awaiting a new work permit. This waiting period led to financial instability for workers and frustration for Canadian employers keen to fill urgent labour and skills gaps. Now, temporary foreign workers already in Canada, who have a job offer either through the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program or the International Mobility Program can begin their new roles more quickly The Canadian government acknowledges that temporary foreign workers play a vital role in the Canadian economy. However, circumstances can arise where an existing employment contract is no longer viable. This could be due to various reasons, such as a new role with the same employer, layoffs, workplace conflict, or simply the pursuit of better compensation or professional growth opportunities with a different company. "It is imperative to better utilize the skills and training of the temporary foreign workers already here," states a recently updated post on the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). "This policy offers workers a viable and timely alternative to change employers if they need to do so" adds the post. Speaking to the TOI, Kubeir Kamal, a regulated Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC) said, 'The temporary public policy from IRCC, allows temporary foreign workers, including many from the Indian community, to change employers without needing a new work permit while their application is processed. This would specifically apply to the closed work permit holders in Canada.' 'Indian workers, who form a significant portion of Canada's temporary foreign workforce (over one lakh work permits were issued to Indian nationals in 2022), often hold employer-specific (close) work permits in sectors like IT, healthcare, caregiving, and agriculture. This policy allows them to switch jobs without waiting for a new permit, reducing downtime and enabling pursuit of better opportunities, such as higher-paying roles or positions with career advancement,' he added. Meanwhile, Jamil Jivani, a member of the Canadian Parliament from the Conservative party, apparently acting suo moto, has launched a petition to end the TFW Program. He blames it for high immigration numbers, taking jobs from Canadians, lowering wages and putting an additional burden on infrastructure. The re-elected Liberal party in August last year had announced restrictive measures for hiring temporary foreign workers. These included a cap on the number of TFWs that can be hired, and reduction in the duration of employment for workers hired under the low-wage stream to one year, from two years.
Economic Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
After housing and job crisis, Canadian MP launches petition to end temporary foreign worker program
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani started a petition to end the Temporary Foreign Worker program. He said the TFW program is a big reason immigration is too high, and it's taking jobs from Canadians and lowering wages, as per reports. In a social media video, Jivani blamed high immigration for doctor shortages, crowded hospitals, housing problems, and fewer jobs for Canadians. He said people can see these problems everywhere like not enough hospital beds, hard to find a doctor, houses are too few, and jobs are scarce. Jivani said in Parliament it's hard to have a 'sensible conversation' about immigration now. He said his petition doesn't include farm workers. He wants a different program for seasonal farm jobs. One reason for this petition is high youth unemployment. In April, unemployment for 15 to 24-year-olds was 14%, as per the Statistics Canada's May 2025 jobs report. Last year, the federal government already said they will cut back the number of TFWs. They said they won't process TFW applications in cities with more than 6% unemployment, according to a Canadian Press report. From 2025 to 2027, the plan is to allow 82,000 temporary workers into Canada each year. Employment Minister Patty Hajdu responded by pointing out that Jivani is not in the Conservative shadow cabinet. She said if Jivani had been briefed by his party, he'd know they already reduced the TFW program. Hajdu also said the government is talking to labour and industry groups for more changes. She said the TFW program does NOT replace Canadian workers and is important for farms and tourism, as per reports. Jivani seems to be doing this petition on his own. He doesn't have an official role as an immigration or jobs critic in the party. The actual Conservative critics for immigration and employment are Michelle Rempel Garner and Garnett Genuis. The Conservative Party has not commented yet, as mentioned in The Canadian Press report. Q1. What is Jamil Jivani's petition about?He wants to end the Temporary Foreign Worker program in most sectors.Q2. Is the foreign worker program still being run by the Canadian government? Yes, but they are limiting it in cities with high unemployment.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
After housing and job crisis, Canadian MP launches petition to end temporary foreign worker program
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani started a petition to end the Temporary Foreign Worker program . He said the TFW program is a big reason immigration is too high, and it's taking jobs from Canadians and lowering wages, as per reports. In a social media video, Jivani blamed high immigration for doctor shortages, crowded hospitals, housing problems, and fewer jobs for Canadians . He said people can see these problems everywhere like not enough hospital beds, hard to find a doctor, houses are too few, and jobs are scarce. Jivani said in Parliament it's hard to have a 'sensible conversation' about immigration now. He said his petition doesn't include farm workers. He wants a different program for seasonal farm jobs. One reason for this petition is high youth unemployment. In April, unemployment for 15 to 24-year-olds was 14%, as per the Statistics Canada's May 2025 jobs report. Last year, the federal government already said they will cut back the number of TFWs. They said they won't process TFW applications in cities with more than 6% unemployment, according to a Canadian Press report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dental Implant Bagong Silang Cost Might Be More Affordable Than Ever! Dental implant | Search Ads Learn More Undo From 2025 to 2027, the plan is to allow 82,000 temporary workers into Canada each year. Employment Minister Patty Hajdu responded by pointing out that Jivani is not in the Conservative shadow cabinet. She said if Jivani had been briefed by his party, he'd know they already reduced the TFW program. Hajdu also said the government is talking to labour and industry groups for more changes. She said the TFW program does NOT replace Canadian workers and is important for farms and tourism, as per reports. Jivani seems to be doing this petition on his own. He doesn't have an official role as an immigration or jobs critic in the party. The actual Conservative critics for immigration and employment are Michelle Rempel Garner and Garnett Genuis. The Conservative Party has not commented yet, as mentioned in The Canadian Press report. Live Events FAQs Q1. What is Jamil Jivani's petition about? He wants to end the Temporary Foreign Worker program in most sectors. Q2. Is the foreign worker program still being run by the Canadian government? Yes, but they are limiting it in cities with high unemployment.
Toronto Star
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Conservative MP launches petition to end temporary foreign worker program
OTTAWA - Conservative MP Jamil Jivani has launched a petition to end the temporary foreign worker program. The petition says the temporary foreign worker program is a 'large contributor' to an unsustainable level of immigration and claims the program is taking jobs away from Canadians and suppressing wages. In a social media video about the petition, Jivani links immigration to doctor shortages, crowded hospitals, the housing crisis and a challenging job market. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'There's a pretty clear consensus, even across people with different political views, that immigration levels are just unsustainably high,' Jivani said. 'Anyone who goes to a hospital can see there's not enough beds. Anyone who goes to look for a family doctor can't find one. You go to buy a house, there's not enough of those. You go to find a job, there might not be one of those for you either.' The Ontario MP said it's reached a point in Parliament where you 'can't have a sensible conversation' about the issue. Jivani said his petition does not include temporary workers in the agricultural sector. He suggested that seasonal agricultural workers should be under a separate program. The Ontario MP said that youth unemployment is one reason why he's brought forward this petition. The unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 24 reached 14 per cent in April, according to Statistics Canada's May jobs report. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Last year, the government announced plans to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers being admitted to Canada. This measure includes refusing to process applications in metropolitan areas with more than six per cent unemployment. The government plans to admit 82,000 workers annually under the temporary foreign worker program from 2025 to 2027, according to its immigration levels plan. In an emailed statement, Employment Minister Patty Hajdu needled Jivani over not being named one of the Conservative caucus critics in the House of Commons. 'I know MP Jivani wasn't included in Andrew Scheer's shadow cabinet,' she wrote, referring to the Conservative MP who is leading the Official Opposition in the House of Commons, 'but he may want to ask that the party resume briefing him, because if they had, he'd know that in the last year alone, we considerably scaled back the TFW program to reflect local labour needs.' Hajdu added the government is consulting with labour and industry groups about future changes to the program and said it 'in no way' replaces Canadian talent. The minister said the program is 'vital' to the agricultural sector and tourism industry. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Jivani appears to be acting alone with his petition, since he does not hold one of the Conservative critic positions. Alberta MPs Michelle Rempel Garner and Garnett Genuis are the immigration and employment critics, respectively. The Conservatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
What's the Temporary Foreign Worker Program that is deepening jobs and housing squeeze in Canada
In a greenhouse in Ontario, Jorge Ramirez checks the irrigation lines, his fifth season as a temporary foreign worker in Canada. "I send money back to my family in Mexico. It helps a lot," he says. But back in Ottawa, political tensions are heating up over the very program that brought Jorge here. Conservative MP Jamil Jivani recently called for the termination of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, claiming it is failing Canadians. His remarks sparked a debate on what the TFWP is, how it functions, and whether its benefits still outweigh its social costs. Also Read: Conservative MP Jamil Jivani calls for an end to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Semua yang Perlu Anda Ketahui Tentang Limfoma Limfoma Pelajari Undo What is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program? The TFWP is a federal program that allows Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals temporarily to fill labor shortages. It is managed jointly by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Live Events Employers must typically apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), demonstrating that no Canadian worker is available for the role. Once approved, a foreign national can apply for a work permit and begin employment in Canada. The TFWP includes provisions to ensure fair treatment. Employers must provide safe working conditions, pay for transportation and housing for some worker categories, and comply with Canadian labor laws. Major working streams and sectors of the program The program is segmented into various streams: High-Wage Workers, Low-Wage Workers, the Global Talent Stream, In-Home Caregivers, Foreign Agricultural Workers, and Foreign Academics. Agriculture and In-home caregiving make up a significant portion of this program, but each stream addresses different labor needs in the market. The Global Talent Stream, for instance, facilitates fast-track hiring of highly skilled workers in tech and research sectors. Meanwhile, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program brings laborers from Mexico and the Caribbean for up to eight months a year. Rise in Canada's unemployment rate Jivani's criticism is rooted in economic concerns, including the 14% youth unemployment rate as of April 2025. Critics argue that the TFWP suppresses wages and discourages investment in training Canadian workers. "Young Canadians are being left out," Jivani said. "Instead of investing in our people, we are relying on cheap labor from abroad." Government response Employment Minister Patty Hajdu responded by defending the TFWP, highlighting its role in supporting agriculture, hospitality, and healthcare sectors. "We are scaling the program to reflect actual labor shortages, not to replace Canadian workers," Hajdu stated. Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has pledged to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers and cap total temporary residents to 5% of the population by 2027. This move is part of a broader immigration reset aimed at managing infrastructure and public service demand. Quebec has a different approach Quebec maintains its own guidelines under the TFWP. For example, all LMIA applications must be submitted in French unless they concern in-home caregivers. Quebec also has exemptions for certain skilled workers already holding work permits and Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQs). A pilot project in partnership with the federal government allows Quebec employers in specified NOC categories to bypass recruitment requirements until the end of 2024. Business groups caution against abrupt changes that could disrupt sectors reliant on temporary foreign workers. "We need balance," says an executive from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. "Without foreign workers, many farms, restaurants, and hospitals simply cannot function."
