Canada’s health care system continues to face significant labour shortages, particularly in long-term care and home health services. According to Maple News, this ongoing crisis, intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, has prompted the country to increasingly rely on Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) to maintain the delivery of essential health services.
TFWs have become a prominent part of Canada’s health care workforce, helping to fill vital roles amid persistent staffing challenges. A Statistics Canada report reveals that the number of TFWs in this sector surged from 3,200 in 2000 to 57,500 in 2022—a nearly 17-fold increase. The sharpest rise occurred during the pandemic between 2019 and 2020, when TFW participation grew by 50 percent in a single year.
Initially employed mostly in hospitals, TFWs are now increasingly found in nursing homes and home care settings. In 2022, they made up almost 5% of workers in residential care facilities and nearly 8% in home health services. Provinces such as Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island have higher-than-average reliance on these workers, with Ontario alone accounting for 43% of all health care TFWs.
These workers primarily come from countries like India and the Philippines. While Filipinos historically dominated the sector, Indian workers have recently become the largest group, representing about one-third of all TFWs in Canadian health care as of 2022. They arrive under both occupation-restricted work permits via the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and open work permits through the International Mobility Program. Some began their Canadian journey as international students or asylum seekers.
Increasingly, TFWs are not just temporary contributors—they are becoming permanent fixtures in the system. Many are transitioning to permanent residency (PR) through streams such as the Canadian Experience Class, the Provincial Nominee Program, and former initiatives like the 2021 TR to PR Pathway. The transition rate has improved over time: nearly 60% of TFWs who arrived between 2010 and 2014 became permanent residents within five years.
More importantly, those holding health-specific work permits tend to remain in health care longer after gaining PR. One year post-PR, over 80% continue in the sector; even after five years, more than 75% remain. However, those with general or open work permits show lower retention, suggesting that program design greatly influences long-term workforce stability.
The integration of TFWs into Canada’s health care framework has policy implications. Advocates urge for streamlined PR pathways, recognition of foreign credentials, and improvements in wages and conditions—especially in long-term care settings—to support both retention and service quality. Addressing geographic disparities and strengthening training efforts for domestic workers will also be crucial.
As Maple News reports, TFWs are not simply bridging temporary gaps—they are increasingly foundational to the health care sector’s resilience. Acknowledging and supporting their long-term contribution is essential as Canada prepares for a future with even greater health care demands.