According to a recent Senate report, Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) needs significant updates to ensure its long-term efficacy.  

Despite being a heavily relied-upon source for seasonal employees from abroad, the program has faced numerous doubts about its ability to support employers and protect workers.  

On the employer side, even good actors face red tape and a lack of coordination among stakeholders at every level of government. Meanwhile, employees are frustrated by work permits that inadvertently tie them to a single employer, even in the face of precarious working conditions. As a result, workers face power imbalances and a heightened risk of human rights abuses.  

The Senate has recommended establishing a Migrant Work Commission that would oversee the program and serve as a “one-stop shop,” both for migrants requiring support to assert their rights and for employers trying to navigate TFWP processes.  

While some advocates welcome the proposed changes, there are concerns that the Senate is missing a critical opportunity to address structural issues within the program and call for an overhaul.  

The proposed commission would feature two commissioners—one for employers and another for workers—as well as representatives from Employment and Social Development Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to provide national oversight. Both ministries have 120 days to respond to the Senate’s recommendations.