Temporary Migrant Admissions in Canada: What a deeper dive into the numbers tells us about the first half of 2025

October 22, 2025

A recently released survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute (September 25) on opinion on Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW’s) found that against the backdrop of the number of TFWP (P for program) permit holders precipitously increasing in recent years, fully half (52%) of Canadians say they view the program more negatively than positively, compared to one-quarter (23%) who view it in the inverse. Alongside this, Angus Reid points out that 55 per cent say Canada accepts too many TFWs and that a majority of Canadians say the TFWP has a negative impact on the labour market (54%), young workers in Canada (61%) and the housing market (66%). At the same time, they’re twice as likely to agree (58%) than disagree (29%) that these workers are blamed for economic problems that they did not create. These findings likely reflect broader pubic concern about immigration where distinctions between temporary and permanent migrants may not be as relevant to Canadians or well understood as assumed. Also awareness over the distinctions between categories of temporary migrants is likely not high. Recent public conversation has centered upon the TFW program where the larger number of temporary migrants come via the IMP (international mobility program). Additionally, foreign students (study permit holders) are also regarded as part of the temporary migrant stream. For that reason, admission numbers projected by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that address temporary migration also include forecasts for foreign students. Recent calls for the outright elimination of the TFW program need to consider the overall temporary migrant stream, who is coming to the country and in what part of Canada they’re taking up residence.