Is the TFW Program Broken? Heated Exchange on Fraud and Labour Gaps in the House

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]want. I'm talking about the fraud in her department. 21,000 of those flagged applicants filed asylum claims at the taxpayers's expense.

[00:00:09]>> I understand the tier levels. I understand skilled trade. I understand construction having come from that world. 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 >> I want to thank the minister for being here tonight and I want to thank the officials for uh for joining us I want to go back to something that the minister um uh spoke about um youth the youth unemployment rate in this country stands at almost 15% right now does she believe that that's a crisis >> the honorable Minister, >> thank you very much. Uh, Mr. Chair, uh, we all have youth in our communities, in our homes. We want them to have good jobs and good opportunities. Uh, right now is a great time to actually bring forth that there's thousands and thousands of Canada summer jobs that are available in every single riding in this country. And I would recommend uh to the member that >> there are thousands and thousands of youth who can't find jobs. That's for sure. But should we be approving visas for low-wage temporary foreign workers at a time where youth unemployment is at recession levels highs no matter what program she talks about?

[00:01:24]>> Well, minister, >> so thank you again for that question. Uh we do have a youth unemployment rate.

[00:01:30]There are many factors for that rate. Uh again the rate has been recently rising population. So the temporary foreign worker program the number >> the minister said earlier in her exchange that the foreign the temporary foreign worker uh program was down from 2024 to 2026. But I want to just bring to the attention of this house that the minister activated 3,500 TFW permits in the first two months of 2026 compared to 24,000 in the same period last year.

[00:02:01]Why?

[00:02:02]>> Minister, >> thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Our measures are working. We've tightened regulations. Employment and workforce uh has already tightened them. 74% correct of fewer new worker arrivals. That's down 103,160 people in the first 3 months of 2026 compared to 2024.

[00:02:22]>> Honorable member, >> let's compare 2026 to 2025. 33,500 TFW permits in the first two months of 2026. 24,000 in the period of the same period last year. Does she know that 33,000 is more than 24,000? And why on earth is she accelerating the TFW program?

[00:02:40]>> You're here, >> honorable minister.

[00:02:41]>> Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. We are reducing the share of non-permanent residents, including workers, to less than 5% of Cana Canada's population by the end of 2027. That was the mandate.

[00:02:54]That was the commitment we made at the election. Canadians uh elected this government. The prime minister has made that into a mandate that he provided to all ministers. The budget officer has confirmed we are >> failing to answer the question. She's failing to acknowledge that she's actually let in more temporary foreign workers. The TFW permits have gone from 72,000 in 2015 to 190,000 in 2024.

[00:03:16]That's 163% increase. All while youth unemployment is at 15%. The prime minister himself called this a failure of execution. Does she agree with that statement at least?

[00:03:28]>> Honorable minister.

[00:03:29]>> Thank you, Mr. uh chair. In my first year as a minister, I'm going to point to a track record of managing migration.

[00:03:36]One, asylum claims have gone down 60% in early 2026 compared to that of 2024.

[00:03:42]Two, new student visas are down 80% in 20 early 2026 compared to that of 2024.

[00:03:50]Temporary foreign workers are down.

[00:03:52]>> Temporary foreign workers are up. Let the record show it. The minister cannot mis dis mislead this house in saying otherwise. But let's talk about st uh study permits for a second. The minister's department can investigate 2,000 fraud cases a year. The auditor general flagged that there is 153,000.

[00:04:10]At that pace, it is going to take 76 years. That's probably longer than I'm going to be here. That's probably longer than she's going to be here. Is that acceptable to her?

[00:04:19]>> Honorable minister, >> thank you so much, Mr. Chair. In fact, the auditor general uh found clear evidence of improvements that there's few student arrivals that uh student visas that are being issued. I've already talked about the arrivals of these students. Uh significant significant decrease. Perhaps she doesn't want any to come to the country.

[00:04:39]Perhaps she should be speaking to the universities and to the provinces, territories, municipalities and people in >> for a short question of 15 seconds on any members of the house and what they want. I'm talking about the fraud in her department. 21,000 of those flagged applicants filed asylum claims at the taxpayers's expense. The minister's department confirmed 800 fraud cases.

[00:05:01]Why so few prosecutors?

[00:05:02]>> The honorable minister, >> thank you. Thank you very much. Uh Mr. Chair, uh two things. One, the department has investigated each and every case flag. Two, we brought in C12, which will eliminate all the irregularities of those that filed that should not have filed.

[00:05:19]a debate. The honorable member for Dan Keldon. 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?

[00:05:38]>> Honorable minister, >> thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. At 2018, fabulous. I was a provincial minister and in fact I did act as the minister of labor 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 >> member.

[00:05:56]>> 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?

[00:06:06]>> Honorable minister.

[00:06:07]>> 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.

[00:06:23]>> Um, she obviously doesn't know the answer to that question, which is shocking, but it's 127,000. That's the answer to that question. Could the minister tell this house how many tier three tier 0 to3 skilled occupations including skilled trades TFW permits were issued in 2025?

[00:06:41]>> The honorable minister >> 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 skill trade. I understand construction having come from that world. The important thing here is that the measures that have been implemented are working. Honorable member, >> 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.

[00:07:16]Does minister now want to take the opportunity to apologize for removing the union safeguard on LMAS and apologize to the 127,000 skilled trade workers who lost their jobs because of 126,000 TFWs she issued in skilled trades?

[00:07:32]>> Honorable minister, >> thank you very much uh Mr. Chair for that wonderful question. Actually, I met with union leaders when I went to uh Sadbury uh a few months ago. I also met with union leaders. I do all the time.

[00:07:45]It's part of uh what I what I do. I mean, I think we all do that. Uh the important thing here is that these jobs are to fill labor gaps. They are to work in rural communities in communities where these jobs are needed. There are extreme uh measures that the uh minister of employment and workforce has taken.

[00:08:07]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. Um local 97 union local 90 iron workers 97 warned this government the effect of this. 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? The >> honorable minister, >> thank you so much. So, uh, under my express entry category, we continue to prioritize trade 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.

[00:08:54]Thank you, >> honorable member. While you talk about building the country, here's what building trade unions have said about your temporary foreign worker program.

[00:09:03]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 to the 127,000 unemployed skilled trade workers whose jobs went to 126,000 TFWs that you granted in the skilled trades?

[00:09:30]>> Before I recognize the minister, 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.

[00:09:38]>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh we've been clear that Canadians always deserve and should be getting the jobs first.

[00:09:47]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 are some of them that are still in needing it. My job is to manage migration and to invest in our youth, but also And as I said, 74% of you are no worker.

[00:10:11]>> Through through through you, Mr. Chair, what's amazing is the minister's lack of remorse for the effect of her decisions.

[00:10:16]Doug Parton of Iron Workers 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 Iron Workers Local 97, is wrong?

[00:10:29]>> Honorable Minister, >> 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.

[00:10:55]>> Mr. Mr. Speaker, I believe you just uh mentioned this, but the member is doing it again where he's referring to he's saying minister and talking directly to the minister. He has to speak through the chair, does he not? Perhaps he's a new member. You could explain the rules to him. I >> I I thank the chief government whip.

[00:11:09]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.

[00:11:20]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 different calendar to to start from the beginning so you can complete his question.

[00:11:30]>> 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?

[00:11:51]>> The honorable minister.

[00:11:53]>> 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 rules >> 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 Center project. Are you aware of these cases, yes or no? And what are you doing to prevent this in the future?

[00:12:36]>> The honorable minister.

[00:12:37]>> Thank you very much, Mr. Mr. Chair, as I've indicated, we have a plan.

[00:12:42]>> The plan is working. We have seen considerable reduction in temporary workers. We have tightened measures, integrity measures. We will continue to look at those. We have members of parliament from the opposition that are advocating.

[00:12:57]>> The honorable member >> through you, Mr. Chair. Once again, not even an attempt to answer the question.

[00:13:02]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 forge 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 cite one investigation into this going on and one action that her department has taken to crack down on these types of incurrences?

[00:13:31]>> Honorable minister, >> thank you very much uh Mr. Chair. 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.

[00:14:02]the honorable member.

[00:14:04]>> Um through you, Mr. 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?

[00:14:28]>> Minister, >> 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.

[00:14:47]>> Honorable member, final question.

[00:14:49]>> UA787 organized an employer in the GTA. When they organized that employer, they discovered that there were over a dozen HVAC TFWs working for that company. At the same time, there were a similar number of >> 1% of the workforce TFW.

[00:15:08]>> Sorry.

[00:15:12]>> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We've implemented strict requirements for all employers that they have to adhere to.

[00:15:20]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.