The TFW program is just another instance where people are trying to go all or nothing on the Liberals. I am not defending the program, I am actually very much against it, but I also think it is disingenuous to claim the Liberals are ignoring the issues, or that they shouldn't do anything since they caused it. As much as that is called "closing the barn door after the horses have left", I think the issues are also very much "Monday morning Quarterbacking".
I agree the program is out of control right now, and so do the Liberals. Yes there are ugly warts, and the UN is right to point them out, but I can also concede that there are companies that are following the rules properly and treating employees fairly.
But if we want to dig down some context..
1. The Liberals did actually reduce the number of TFWs significantly after taking power. Their rhetoric in 2013/2014 wasn't just talking out the side of their mouth. In 2015 the number of TFW permits dropped by 30% and didn't get back to 2014 levels until 2022, bottoming out in 2017 at 50% the size that Harper's Conservatives had.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program work permit holders in Canada from 2000 to 2022
2. There was a little thing that happened called COVID that disrupted employment across the world, and the reopening boom actually created a lot of jobs, pushing the unemployment rate in Canada to it's lowest level in 20 years. Clearly there was actual data and a real concern in some industries that they were not able to hire enough Canadians to meet demand.
Rate of unemployment in Canada from 2000 to 2023
3. The Liberals overdid it. The relaxed too many regulations, the pure amount of workers also meant the chances of abuse of the system increased and it got out of hand. But there was justifications for the changes, and a lot of push from industries. We have posters saying things like "the Liberals don't care and arn't doing anything", but when I point out they are doing something it is met with "well its their own fault"
It all makes sense why it was done, not some big nefarious scheme or some political blunder. It also makes sense how it is causing other issues now that unemployment is on the rise, and the system needs to be restricted again. How the next few months play out in regards to the TFW program is going to be key.
But honestly, if they did nothing, the discussion today would be how the Liberals allowed inflation to continue to grow by forcing companies to increase wages which increases costs to the consumer. Or how the Liberals hate the prairies and the agriculture industry because they ignored their calls for more workers. Or how they hurt the hospitality industry where they wouldn't have been able to fill all of the positions required post-COVID with the tourism bump.