Maple News reports that recent statements by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre on Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) have stirred debate, particularly regarding whether the federal government is exceeding its stated immigration targets. According to Poilievre, the federal government has issued 105,000 Temporary Foreign Worker permits in the first half of 2025 — considerably more than the ‘cap’ of 82,000 set for the year.
However, closer examination reveals this claim to be misleading. The figure of 82,000 cited by Poilievre is not a strict cap but a target outlined in Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan. This target refers specifically to net new arrivals under the TFWP, meaning new foreign nationals entering Canada for work in 2025, rather than the total number of permits issued.
The 105,000 figure represents all permit activity under the TFWP—including extensions, renewals, and new permits granted to individuals already residing in Canada. In contrast, official data shows that only 33,722 permits were issued to new workers entering Canada between January and June 2025. That amounts to roughly 41% of the 82,000 new arrivals target, far below the threshold for alarm.
Immigration Minister Lena Diab confirmed this data on September 3, reinforcing that the government is indeed managing temporary resident intake in line with policy goals. Furthermore, efforts introduced in early 2024 to reduce temporary resident levels appear to be working. Between January and June 2025, Canada admitted 125,903 fewer foreign workers than during the same period in 2024—a significant 50% drop.
These changes align with the federal government’s broader shift toward slowing the growth of Canada’s temporary resident population. Policymakers have been working to curb short-term labour inflows to ensure a more balanced immigration strategy that supports both economic growth and housing availability.
While political leaders continue to debate immigration levels, it remains vital to ground these conversations in factual interpretations of government data. As Maple News has observed, the federal government is currently on track to meet—not exceed—its TFWP targets for 2025.
Mischaracterizing these figures not only misleads the public but complicates an already nuanced discussion about immigration planning in Canada. With ongoing reviews to Canada’s immigration policies expected into 2026, accuracy in public discourse will be critical.