Trudeau urges businesses to hire locally as Canada reduces low-wage foreign workers, with key sector exemptions
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that the federal government is tightening rules to reduce the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers entering Canada, as per Financial Post.
He emphasized the need for businesses to prioritize hiring Canadian workers, citing changes in the post-pandemic economy where labour shortages have eased, and inflation has begun to decrease.
During a press conference, Trudeau acknowledged that the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) played a crucial role in supporting businesses during the pandemic by providing needed labour.
However, he noted that the current economic conditions have shifted, and there is now less need for temporary foreign workers.
The TFWP accounts for a small percentage of the total foreign workers in Canada, with about nine percent of the 2.8 million non-permanent residents falling under this stream, according to government data.
Trudeau clarified that the new measures would not affect workers brought in for essential sectors such as healthcare, construction, and food security.
Additionally, Trudeau announced that the government would introduce changes to the high-wage stream of the TFWP following a review in the coming months.
These changes are part of a broader effort to adapt the program to current economic needs and ensure it aligns with Canada's labour market priorities.
