Question Period Note: TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKER HOUSING/ACCOMMODATIONS

The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program recognizes the importance of suitable accommodations to protect the health and safety of temporary foreign workers and is continuing to work with provinces, territories, and other stakeholders to achieve this goal.

• While in Canada, temporary foreign workers have the same workplace rights and protections as Canadians and permanent residents under applicable federal, provincial and territorial laws.
• The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to the rights and protections of foreign workers. We welcome recommendations that help strengthen protections for all workers, including temporary foreign workers.
• Employer-provided accommodation requirements under the TFW Program are a multi-jurisdictional responsibility. The Program recognizes the importance of suitable accommodations to protect the health and safety of temporary foreign workers and remains committed to continuing work with provinces and territories and other stakeholders on worker protections.

In May 2025, the Coalition for National housing standards for Migrant agricultural workers, released the "National Housing Standard for Migrant Agricultural Workers," highlighting issues that lead to inconsistent, substandard and undignified housing conditions for migrant agricultural workers. Developed by over 20 experts, the report proposes enforceable national standards to improve these conditions.

The report identifies challenges related to the housing conditions of migrant agricultural workers in Canada, which threaten their health, safety, and dignity. Common issues include inadequate heating, cooling, and ventilation, lack of clean drinking water, insufficient washroom and kitchen facilities, and exposure to pests. Overcrowding reduces their ability to sleep, enjoy privacy, and secure personal belongings. Many migrant agricultural workers live in remote areas, leading to social isolation and difficulties accessing essential services like groceries and healthcare. Additionally, living on their employer's property restricts their freedom, increases surveillance, and allows for greater employer control over their lives.

The recommendations call for all levels of government to ensure adequate housing for migrant agricultural workers by implementing regular inspections and enforcing housing standards. It emphasizes the need for workers to have privacy, security, and dignified living conditions, including access to clean water and sanitation facilities. Additionally, the recommendations highlight the importance of reducing overcrowding and enhancing social connections, while addressing issues of employer control and surveillance to protect workers' rights and freedoms.
The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program has multiple tools in place to protect and empower temporary foreign workers, including a compliance regime to verify, through inspections, that employers are meeting program requirements set out in their Labour Market Impact Assessment and the conditions set out in pertinent regulations, including compliance with accommodation requirements when employers provide housing for temporary foreign workers.

Service Canada also maintains a confidential tip line, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with live agents offering services in 200 languages, Monday to Friday from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM, and an online reporting tool where temporary foreign workers or other interested parties can anonymously report situations of potential wrongdoing and misuse of the TFW Program. Employers who are found non-compliant face significant penalties, including warnings, administrative monetary penalties and bans from using the TFW Program. If an employer fails to meet program requirements and/or conditions, financial consequences can range from a $500 penalty up to a $100,000 per violation with a maximum combined amount up to $1 million per year and a temporary or permanent ban from the Program.

Canada takes the promotion and protection of human and labour rights of temporary foreign workers seriously and works closely with provincial and territorial governments, international partners, and worker support organizations on worker protections.

If pressed on worker protections tools
• The TFW Program has tools in place to protect temporary foreign workers, including a compliance regime to verify, through inspections, that employers are meeting program requirements. This includes compliance with accommodation requirements when employers provide housing for temporary foreign workers.
• The Government of Canada funds the Migrant Worker Support Program, which supports temporary foreign workers in better understanding and exercising their rights while in Canada.
• Service Canada also maintains a confidential tip line and online reporting tool where temporary foreign workers or other interested parties can anonymously report situations of potential wrongdoing and misuse of the TFW Program.

• Employers found non-compliant can face significant consequences, including penalties and bans from the Program. Non-compliant employers are listed on a public-facing Government of Canda website.