Canadian Chamber Response to UN Report on Temporary Foreign Worker Program

The below statement is the Canadian Chamber’s response to the final report by UN investigator Tomoya Obokata on Canada’s temporary foreign worker program.

Canada is a country with a long history of regard and respect for the rule of law. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce condemns the mistreatment of all workers (including temporary foreign workers), and rejects the view of the United Nations Special Rapporteur that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) serves as a “breeding ground” for “contemporary forms of slavery.”

Mr. Obokata recognizes in his report that he ‘…was encouraged to find that majority of employers of temporary foreign workers act in good faith, noting that 94 per cent were found compliant during inspections in 2023. He also received information regarding various initiatives to protect the rights of workers implemented by employers and appreciated the efforts of the Government to increase worker protections, such as updated regulations requiring employers to inform workers of their rights and to ensure access to health care. He also appreciated that employers in British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia must be registered with provincial and territorial authorities before hiring temporary foreign workers.‘

The TFWP has been in existence for more than five decades. Through the years, a series of changes have been adopted to support its delivery and continuous improvement, and since 2022, the program has enhanced its integrity measures to further protect workers. The Federal Government has made clear its intent to address the misuse of the TFWP and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is supportive of this initiative.

At the same time, we urge the government to adequately listen to the concerns of employers from various industries. Workers who come to Canada under the TFWP act as personal support and long-term care workers in addition to helping thousands of small and medium employers outside of urban centres find the workforce they need in their communities to keep agricultural products harvested, processed, prepared and transported to consumers in cities across Canada. The continued success of the TFWP is essential to the care of many elderly Canadians, the sustainability of farming operations and our food supply, and the affordability of goods for Canadian families.

• Diana Palmerin-Velasco, Senior Director, Future of Work