Minister Boissonnault Unveils New Measures to Combat Fraud in Canada’s TFW Program
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The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program is an emergency remedy for when a qualified Canadian cannot fill a position. Employers of temporary foreign workers must provide a safe, healthy workplace and treat employees with respect.
The Honorable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages, met with representatives from Canada's largest business associations today to emphasize that the TFW Program cannot be used to avoid hiring talented workers in Canada and that the federal government will take further steps to eliminate misuse and fraud.
Minister Boissonnault announced the following measures to eliminate temporary foreign workers in Canada: We consistently apply the 20% cap to temporary foreign workers. This includes the “dual intent sub-stream” strategy for temporary foreign workers seeking permanent residency. Employers using this stream will face stricter guidelines, stricter oversight in high-risk areas, increased LMIA fees for integrity and processing, and potential regulatory changes regarding employer eligibility (e.g., minimum years of business operations).
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Minister Boissonnault told business associations that he may refuse low-wage processing. This would bar some employers from using the TFW program. In Budget 2022, the government announced a new foreign labor stream for agriculture and fish and seafood processing to modernize the TFW Program.
Current efforts add to prior program modifications that have directly improved employer inspection quality, timeliness, and reach, as well as increased fines by 36% in 2023-2024 compared to the previous fiscal year.
While most firms use the program as intended, more action is necessary to protect the Canadian labor market and hold unscrupulous actors accountable. The Minister will regularly monitor employer demand for the TFW Program and the employment rate and tighten if needed. Canada wants to engage more with businesses to ensure they understand their program commitments, as shown by today's meeting.