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.

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.