'The age of unlimited supply of cheap foreign labour is over,' says minister
Canadian employers’ use of “unlimited” cheap labour could be coming to an end as the federal government looks to crack down on “exploitative” conditions within the immigration process.
The federal government is intensifying efforts to reform Canada’s reliance on low-wage foreign labour, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced. Speaking in Vancouver, he outlined plans to crack down on exploitative employment practices, enhance enforcement against irregular migration, and overhaul wage structures to prioritize fair compensation for Canadian workers.
“There are exploitative relationships that exist, and we need to crack down on them. That includes a proper wage,” he said, pointing to low-wage sectors like agriculture and food processing, according to a Global News report.
“It’s clear that the age of unlimited supply of cheap foreign labour is over, and I think that is a good thing,” he said.
Recently, the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that an employer could be held liable for damages incurred by foreign nationals who paid for Canadian jobs.
Strengthened enforcement around immigration
Key among the government’s initiatives is limiting the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers and raising the minimum wage requirements for their employment. These measures are designed to encourage employers to invest in local talent while reducing dependency on cheaper, temporary foreign labour.
While acknowledging that the reforms may create challenges, Miller defended the changes as necessary in the Global News report.
“This year and the next year will be one of turbulence,” he says. “But bringing the numbers down, I think, is very important to making sure that we aren’t simply chasing short-term gain for a lot of long-term pain.”
Previously, Ottawa announced its new 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, marking a significant decrease in immigration targets. The numbers are lower compared to last year’s plan.
The government also plans to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to address irregular migration and ensure temporary workers comply with their visa terms. Miller confirmed that Ottawa is reviewing resource allocations for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to enhance its ability to carry out deportations and removals.
“In the context of enforcement, generally, broadly speaking, we absolutely need to look at the enforcement mechanisms that we employ to make sure people that don’t want to leave after due process actually do leave,” Miller said.
“I’m not going to share publicly the plans that we have on enforcement, but more enforcement means more resources.”
Data from the CBSA, cited by Global News, revealed a significant gap between deportation orders issued and those enforced. While the agency reported a high of 11,444 removals in 2019–2020, many individuals with deportation notices in recent years remain in Canada.
Miller emphasized that the government will continue to clarify expectations for temporary workers.
“When you have a temporary program, it has to mean something. It means that people eventually may have to leave or are expected to leave.”
Immigration policies after US election
He also addressed Canada’s border policies in light of anticipated stricter immigration enforcement in the United States under the Trump administration. He expressed a need for "tough conversations" with U.S. officials regarding asylum claims and irregular migration.
The Safe Third Country Agreement, which governs the handling of asylum seekers crossing between the two countries, remains central to Canada’s approach. Miller indicated that its enforcement must include managing rejected asylum claims effectively.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters Wednesday the government “will ensure that Canada’s borders are secure and that we have the necessary resources to ensure that they’re secure,” but wouldn’t confirm “hypothetical” staffing needs at CBSA.
The federal government has made numerous changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) this year.
