TFW Petition Undermines Equity in Hiring
Jamil Jivani’s petition on TFWs risks equity in Canadian hiring
The TFW debate: more than just jobs
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani recently launched a petition to end Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, framing it as a contributor to high immigration levels and job scarcity. He cites concerns like youth unemployment, overburdened healthcare systems, and limited housing supply.
But cutting the TFW program is more than a policy tweak—it’s a decision with serious implications for the Canadian labour market and for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the workplace.
Job market disruption isn’t always what it seems
Youth unemployment and perceived job competition
Canada’s youth unemployment rate was 14.1% in April 2025, which Jivani highlights as a reason to prioritize young Canadians over TFWs. But this logic misses key labour realities:
Service, agricultural, and construction industries continue to face serious labour shortages.
Employers must first prove they cannot find local candidates before accessing the TFW program.
Blaming the program sidesteps the broader challenge of aligning youth training with market demands.
Labour market flexibility at risk
Ending the TFW program could:
Raise wages modestly in some industries,
But also trigger business closures, especially in agriculture and tourism, where Canadian workers remain scarce.
Urban vs. rural labour dynamics
The federal government has already paused TFW applications in high-unemployment urban areas. But Jivani’s petition doesn’t address the regional nuances of labour demand.
Rural employers, especially in farming and elder care, rely on TFWs to keep essential services running.
What this means for DEI in the Canadian workplace
Migrant workers are part of the equity equation
Many TFWs are racialized individuals from the Global South, often seeking fairer work opportunities than available in their home countries. Ending the program without reform would:
Block access to jobs for marginalized workers,
Reduce racial and cultural diversity in sectors like hospitality, caregiving, and food production.
DEI in the workplace isn't just about who’s already employed—it’s about who gets a chance to participate at all. And sometimes, hiring newcomers can make really good business sense.
Why fixing exploitation—not ending TFWs—is the real DEI solution
Criticism of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program isn’t new—and much of it is valid. But the answer isn’t elimination. The real DEI solution is reform that protects workers and promotes equity:
End employer-specific permits that tie workers to a single employer and increase vulnerability
Strengthen labour inspections and enforcement to catch abuses early and deter exploitation
Provide clear pathways to permanent residency as recommended by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration
This kind of policy shift supports the vision outlined in What real inclusive hiring looks like in Canadian workplaces—where inclusion means upholding fairness and dignity for every worker, no matter where they’re from.
How anti-immigration rhetoric harms DEI and fuels division
Jivani’s petition connects immigration to problems like doctor shortages, crowded hospitals, and housing scarcity. But the data doesn't support this narrative:
Health care backlogs are due to staffing models and training bottlenecks, not immigration levels.
Immigration contributes to economic growth, including creating demand for housing and services—not simply competition.
This kind of rhetoric stokes “us vs. them” dynamics, which undermine inclusive workplaces and communities.
A better path forward would involve:
Transparent immigration planning based on labour market data,
Investment in infrastructure,
And narrative leadership that champions shared prosperity—not division.
Why reforming Canada’s TFW Program is better than ending it
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program must evolve. But ending it outright would do more harm than good:
It would undermine Canada’s ability to fill essential jobs,
Shut out vulnerable global job seekers,
And erode our progress toward inclusive hiring in Canada.
Let’s not pit Canadian youth against migrant workers. Let’s build systems that work for everyone—where both groups can thrive in an equitable, well-supported labour market.
Canada’s strength has always come from its diversity—and from our willingness to grow. Reforming the TFW program is a chance to lead with fairness, dignity, and vision. We can build a workforce that reflects our values and includes everyone in the story of our success.
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