Poilievre accuses liberals of allowing temporary foreign employees of Canadians

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has accused the federal liberals of prioritizing temporary foreign workers over young Canadians, especially at a time when youth unemployment is at a 25-year high. He criticized the government for bringing in a record number of temporary foreign workers, taking away job opportunities from Canadian youth.

According to Statistics Canada, youth unemployment, particularly among those aged 15 to 24, rose to 14.6 percent in July, the highest it has been since 2010, excluding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Poilievre’s comments came shortly after the release of immigration data for the first half of 2025, which he believes shows that the government is not prioritizing Canadian workers.

Last year, Canada implemented limits on the number of temporary foreign workers admitted into the country, a first step taken to address the housing crisis fueled by rapid population growth. The government set a goal to admit 82,000 newcomers through the temporary foreign worker program in 2025, but the data revealed that 105,000 visas were issued in the first six months, exceeding the government’s target.

While an immigration department official clarified that the 105,000 figure includes both new visas and extensions for existing workers, only 33,722 were for newcomers, which is about 42 percent of the government’s yearly target. Additionally, 302,000 visas were issued under the International Mobility Program in the first half of the year, surpassing the government’s goal of 286,000 newcomers in 2025.

Conservative strategist Kate Harrison noted that Poilievre’s stance on immigration has become more prominent since the elections, reflecting a growing concern among Canadians about the impact of immigration on the labor market and economy. Professor John Shields explained that immigration has become a contentious issue, with public opinion shifting towards more skepticism about high levels of immigration.

Despite planned reductions, immigration goals for both temporary and permanent residents remain higher than historical levels to sustain economic growth and address demographic challenges. Poilievre has indicated that the Conservatives will propose reforms to the immigration system, offering a contrast to the current government’s priorities on international relations.

The upcoming release of the updated immigration level plan this fall will be closely watched, as Canada aims to strike a balance between addressing labor market needs and maintaining a healthy population growth rate. The current goal is to increase the share of temporary residents to five percent of the total population, which currently stands at 7.1 percent as of April.