Undocumented workers on federal construction sites? Are your tax dollars funding illegal labour?

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]For the debate, the honorable member for Dufferin-Caledon.

[00:00:02]>> Um in 2018, this Liberal government removed mandatory union consultations from the LMIA process. It was a safeguard to prevent skilled trades workers from being unemployed. Does the minister think that was a good thing to do, or does she regret that decision?

[00:00:20]>> The honorable minister.

[00:00:21]>> Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. Uh 2018, fabulous. I was a provincial minister, and in fact, I did act as the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education in 2020, and I worked very closely with the unions uh in my province, and you know, can speak to some of that. Thank you.

[00:00:39]>> The honorable member.

[00:00:40]>> So, I can only take that as a no, she doesn't think removing that safeguard was a mistake, because she didn't say it was a mistake. How many skilled trade workers were unemployed in Canada in 2025?

[00:00:51]>> The honorable minister.

[00:00:52]>> Thank you very much. It's I love to hear skilled trades. That is something that this budget is offering in lots and lots of positions for skilled trades, for young people, people of all ages in terms of compensation, but also, we want to attract people >> member.

[00:01:10]>> Um she obviously doesn't know the answer to that question, which is shocking, but it's 127,000.

[00:01:17]That's the answer to that question.

[00:01:18]Could the minister tell this house how many tier three, tier zero to three skilled occupations, including skilled trades, TFW permits were issued in 2025?

[00:01:30]>> The honorable minister.

[00:01:32]>> Uh uh Mr. Speaker, I was provincial minister for eight years before now being 12 months as a federal. I understand the tier levels. I understand skilled trade. I understand construction, having come from that world. The important thing here is that the measures that have been implemented are working.

[00:01:50]>> The honorable member.

[00:01:51]>> Since she doesn't know the answer to the question, how many unemployed how many TFWs she gave in the skilled trades category, it's 126,000, which is almost identical to the 127,000 skilled trade workers that were unemployed in 2025. Does the Minister now want to take the opportunity to apologize for removing the union safeguard on LMIAs and apologize to the 127,000 skilled trade workers who lost their jobs because of 126,000 TFWs she issued in skilled trades?

[00:02:26]>> Honorable Minister.

[00:02:27]>> Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, for that wonderful question.

[00:02:32]Actually, I met with union leaders when I went to Sudbury a few months ago. I also met with union leaders. I do all the time. It's part of what I what I do. I mean, I think we all do that. The important thing here is that these jobs are to fill labor gaps.

[00:02:50]They are to work in rural communities, in communities where these jobs are needed. There are extreme measures that the Minister of Employment and Workforce >> It's it's really shocking her lack of remorse for a bad decision that has had real consequences for skilled trade workers in this country.

[00:03:13]Local 97, union local 90 Ironworkers 97 warned this government the effect of this.

[00:03:20]The head of that union said the TFW program was being misused, abused, was driving down wages, and undercutting hardworking Canadians, which the numbers I just gave the Minister proves. Does she now want to admit that it was a mistake and apologize for that mistake?

[00:03:37]>> Honorable Minister.

[00:03:38]>> Thank you so much. So, under my Express Entry category, we continue to prioritize trades such as carpenters, plumbers, and machinists. We have been told that these are gaps that are needed in today's uh country here in Canada, particularly as we build the country. Thank you.

[00:03:58]>> Honorable member.

[00:03:59]>> Well, you talk about building the country. Here's what building trade unions have said about your temporary foreign worker program. They warned your government that excessive reliance on temporary labor would weaken apprenticeship pathways and discourage employers from hiring Canadian employees. The numbers I just gave you bear that out exactly. So, I give you another opportunity. Do you want to apologize for the hunt to the 127,000 unemployed skilled trade workers whose jobs went to 126,000 TFWs that you granted in the skilled trades?

[00:04:35]>> Before I recognize the minister, the the member used quite a bit of use. I I'm neither apologizing for anything or responding, but I will let the minister respond the way she sees fit.

[00:04:44]>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh We've been clear that Canadians always deserve and should be getting the jobs first. There's strict rules, and they have been tightened considerably for temporary foreign workers in a very targeted way that remains the last resort for employers to find them. Businesses and communities, there's some of them that are still in needing it. My job is to manage migration and to invest in our youth, but also in >> Honorable member.

[00:05:17]>> And as I said, 74% of our workers >> Through through through you, Mr. Chair, what's amazing is the minister's lack of remorse for the effect of her decisions.

[00:05:27]Doug Parton of Ironworkers Local 97 said the TFW model has become a business model to suppress wages. Is she saying that Mr. Parton, the head, the business manager for Ironworkers Local 97 is wrong? Honorable minister.

[00:05:42]>> Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. We work with the provinces and territories to focus on addressing the labor market gaps, but we also, quite frankly, I've received letters from the conservative members of Parliament advocating for the temporary foreign worker program as well. So, >> Um Minister, your government now admits that there are at least 500,000 undocumented >> Mr. Speaker, I believe you just uh mentioned this, but the member's doing it again where he's referring to you saying Minister and talking directly to the Minister. He has to speak through the chair, does he not? Perhaps he's He's a new member, you could explain the rules to him.

[00:06:22]>> I I thank the Chief Government Whip.

[00:06:24]That time the member actually said, "Through you, uh Mr. Chair." Then he continued on, and that is okay if members frame it in that fashion. But yes, that's a great reminder for members not to use the you referring to the chair. Uh I'm not asking or commenting on anything, and I would just appreciate if members remember that rule to not speak directly to Ministers, but speak through the chair. I invite the member for Davenport to to start from the beginning so he can complete his question.

[00:06:48]>> Thank you. Uh through you, Mr. Chair, um uh this government now admits that there are at least 500,000 undocumented people in Canada. Can you guarantee that none of these undocumented people are participating in illegal labor on construction sites with federal tax dollars being used for those construction projects?

[00:07:11]>> The Honorable Minister.

[00:07:13]>> Uh Mr. Chair, we continue to prioritize trades, as I said, such as carpenters, plumbers, machinists. I have personally met with union leaders right here in the House of Commons building, but also in provinces and ter- that I've actually visited. We continue to work with them, and we will ensure that our rule >> Remember, the question through you, Mr. Chair, was about undocumented workers on federal construction sites where they're getting federal tax dollars. Perhaps the Minister misunderstood the question, which is why I'm repeating it. In fact, just recently four undocumented workers were identified by CBSA at at the Calgary Event Centre project. Are you aware of these cases, yes or no, and what are you doing to prevent this in the future?

[00:08:00]>> The honorable Minister.

[00:08:01]>> Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. As I've indicated, we have a plan. The plan is working. We have seen considerable reduction in temporary workers.

[00:08:13]We have tightened measures, integrity measures. We will continue to look at those. We have members of Parliament from the opposition that are advocating >> The honorable member.

[00:08:25]>> Through you, Mr. Chair, once again, not even an attempt to answer the question.

[00:08:29]It's insulting to the people that we represent when we ask these questions and she does not try to answer. Alberta labor organizations uncovered allegations of workers being paid cash, using forged safety certifications, operating without WCI WCB coverage, and being threatened with deportation if they spoke out. This was on a project that received federal dollars. Can the Minister say site one investigation into this going on and one action that her department has taken to crack down on these types of occurrences?

[00:09:01]>> Honorable Minister.

[00:09:02]>> Thank you very much, uh, Mr. Chair.

[00:09:04]Look, there's worker compliance and protection in Canada. Uh, temporary foreign workers have the same employment standards, but there's also rules that they have to follow. Businesses also must adhere to strict conditions. You know, these are managed not just by IRCC, but they're also managed by employment and workforce department. We work across government to ensure that we manage our immigration system accordingly and appropriately and responsibly >> The honorable member.

[00:09:37]>> Um, through you, Chair, I asked if there had been a specific investigation to deal with the specific facts that I was citing. The minister is unable to come up with one, so I would assume that that would mean no. I would assume uh that the temporary foreign worker program would not be used to bring in HVAC technicians if there were HVAC technicians unemployed in that area. Am I correct in that assumption?

[00:10:03]>> Honorable minister.

[00:10:04]>> Very much, Mr. Chair. The temporary foreign worker program, if you are an employer and bringing people under that program, you have strict uh requirements you have to comply with. You have to show that you have made considerable measures to find Canadian workers. The Ministry of Employment and Workforce >> Honorable member, final question.

[00:10:27]>> UA787 organized an employer in the GTA.

[00:10:32]When they organized that employer, they discovered that there were over a dozen HVAC TFWs working for that company.

[00:10:42]At the same time, there were a similar number of >> Less than 1% of the workforce is TFWs.

[00:10:47]>> Sorry?

[00:10:49]>> You have 15 seconds.

[00:10:50]>> You get the last 15 seconds.

[00:10:52]>> Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair. We've implemented strict requirements for all employers that they have to adhere to.

[00:11:00]The temporary foreign worker program is meant exactly as that, temporary, but it's also to ensure that we fill those labor gaps that Canadians cannot fill.