Conservative MP Jamil Jivani has set off a firestorm with a petition launched on May 22, 2025, to terminate Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program, calling it a major driver of unsustainable immigration, job displacement, and wage suppression. As reported by MSN, the Ontario MP’s campaign links the program to pressing issues like hospital overcrowding, doctor shortages, housing crises, and a tough job market, particularly for youth. With the government already scaling back the program, Jivani’s solo push—outside his party’s official stance—has sparked heated reactions from critics and supporters alike. Nuzpost dives into the petition’s details, its implications, and the broader immigration debate heating up in Ottawa.
Jivani’s Petition: A Call to End the TFW Program
Jamil Jivani, the Conservative MP for Durham, launched his petition with a social media video, arguing that the TFW program “takes jobs away from Canadians and suppresses wages,” contributing to an “unsustainably high” immigration level. Citing a 14% youth unemployment rate from Statistics Canada’s May 2025 jobs report, Jivani emphasized the program’s impact on young Canadians, particularly in urban areas. “You go to a hospital, there’s not enough beds. You look for a family doctor, you can’t find one. You try to buy a house, there’s not enough of those,” he stated, framing the TFW program as a strain on public resources, per MSN. Notably, the petition excludes agricultural workers, with Jivani suggesting a separate seasonal program.
The TFW program, which allows employers to hire foreign workers for jobs Canadians are unwilling or unable to fill, is set to admit 82,000 workers annually from 2025 to 2027, down from previous levels, according to the government’s immigration plan. Last year, Ottawa tightened rules, refusing applications in cities with over 6% unemployment, a move Employment Minister Patty Hajdu highlighted in response to Jivani. In a sharp rebuke, Hajdu noted Jivani’s exclusion from the Conservative shadow cabinet, led by Andrew Scheer, saying he “may want to ask the party to resume briefing him” on the program’s recent reforms, per The Canadian Press.
Political and Public Backlash
Jivani’s petition appears to be a solo endeavor, as he holds no critic role in the Conservative caucus, with Alberta MPs Michelle Rempel Garner and Garnett Genuis handling immigration and employment, respectively. The Conservatives did not immediately comment, suggesting Jivani’s move may not reflect party policy, per The Globe and Mail. Liberal MP Kody Blois, representing Kings-Hants, slammed the petition as “reckless,” arguing it would devastate rural economies and agriculture, which rely heavily on TFWs for seasonal labor. “I invite him to visit Kings-Hants to see how his proposal would hinder growth,” Blois stated, per OTTplay.
Public reactions are deeply divided. Supporters argue the program exploits foreign workers and undercuts Canadian wages, with some calling it “Canada’s slave labour program” for its low-wage conditions. Critics, however, defend TFWs, noting they fill critical gaps in sectors like agriculture and construction, where Canadians often shun “hard” jobs. The Times of India reported that 2024 reforms already halved the low-wage TFW stream, capping stays at one year and limiting participation to 10% of a company’s workforce in high-unemployment areas, reflecting government efforts to balance local labor needs.
Economic and Social Stakes
The TFW program has long been contentious, with 2023 data showing it supported industries like agriculture, hospitality, and construction, employing over 100,000 workers. The government’s 2024 cuts, reducing admissions by nearly 20%, aimed to address concerns about wage suppression and job competition, particularly in urban centers. Jivani’s petition cites youth unemployment and infrastructure strain, but opponents argue it overlooks the program’s role in filling labor shortages. The Toronto Star noted that ending the TFW program entirely could disrupt supply chains, especially in agriculture, where seasonal workers are vital.
Hajdu’s reforms, including stricter oversight and regional restrictions, have already reduced TFW reliance, with a focus on protecting Canadian jobs. However, Jivani’s petition taps into broader public frustration, with 59% of Canadians in a 2024 Angus Reid poll agreeing immigration levels are too high. The petition’s claim that TFWs exacerbate housing and healthcare crises resonates with some, but economists warn that eliminating the program could spike labor costs and inflation, per The National Observer.
What’s Next for the TFW Debate?
Jivani’s petition, while bold, faces an uphill battle. Without official Conservative backing, it may struggle to gain traction in Parliament, where “sensible conversation” on immigration is stalled, as Jivani noted. The government’s existing cuts and plans for 82,000 annual TFWs through 2027 suggest a middle ground, but Jivani’s push could pressure the Conservatives to harden their immigration stance ahead of the next election. Meanwhile, rural MPs like Blois warn of economic fallout, particularly for farmers reliant on TFWs.
As Ottawa debates, the TFW program remains a lightning rod for broader immigration tensions. Will Jivani’s petition force a reckoning, or will it fizzle amid practical realities? With public sentiment divided and economic stakes high, Canada’s labor market hangs in the balance.
Nuzpost will monitor the petition’s progress and updates on Canada’s immigration policy.