Carney says temporary foreign worker program needs a ‘focused approach’

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada’s temporary foreign worker program needs a “focused approach” that targets the needs of specific sectors and regions.

Addressing the Liberal caucus in Edmonton today, Carney says plans to reduce immigration rates are meant to “ease the strain” on housing, infrastructure and social services.

Read more:

• Almost half of Canadians want the Temporary Foreign Worker program eliminated: poll
• Premier calls for economic migration in conversation around temporary foreign workers
• As support for immigration wanes, survey says optimism key to retaining immigrants

At a press conference in Brampton, Ont., yesterday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre claimed that the high immigration of recent years is the reason “our youth can’t find jobs or homes.”

Poilievre, who has called for the termination of the temporary foreign worker program, said immigrants are not responsible for housing and employment challenges and blamed the government for admitting “too many too fast.”

Prior to Carney’s speech, former immigration minister Marc Miller said Poilievre’s comments were meant to rally “anti-immigrant sentiments.”

The current government goal for temporary residents is to reduce the number non-permanent residents from about seven per cent of the population to five per cent by the end of 2027.

— With files from Kyle Duggan in Edmonton.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2025.