Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Program Announced

On October 21, 2024, Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, announced changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. These changes will take effect on November 8, 2024. The starting hourly wage for workers entering Canada through the high-wage stream will be increased by 20% above the current median wage in the applicable province or territory. This adjustment raises the existing threshold by between $5 and $8 per hour, depending on the location.

The reforms are expected to shift approximately 34,000 positions from the high-wage stream to the more regulated low-wage stream. This shift may result in up to 20,000 fewer positions being approved through the TFW Program, as it aligns with other policies effective from September 26, 2024. These policies include restrictions on processing Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) in areas with unemployment rates of 6% or higher, except for high-demand sectors.