British Columbia Premier David Eby has joined Quebec Premier Francois Legault and federal Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre in expressing concerns about the number of guest workers and international students in Canada. Their comments come in response to the federal government's approval of significant increases in temporary residents, a trend that began in 2015 and escalated in 2023 under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau acknowledged late last year that the number of temporary residents had reached a record three million, stating, "We could have acted quicker and turned off the taps faster." Given this admission, it is surprising that some are taken aback by Eby's call for a serious discussion among premiers regarding migration levels.

Eby has linked the high number of international students and guest workers to issues such as elevated youth unemployment, stagnant wages, and strained social services, including food banks. He, along with Poilievre, has specifically criticized businesses that exploit the temporary foreign worker (TFW) program, suggesting it should be either canceled or significantly reformed.

Some critics, particularly from the New Democratic Party, have accused Eby of being "anti-immigrant" and of scapegoating temporary workers and foreign students. This type of name-calling has historically hindered open discussions about migration in Canada, unlike in other countries. Eby emphasizes that his concerns are policy-related and not aimed at individuals.

Recent polling data indicates that about 62 percent of Canadians believe migration levels are too high, a significant increase from 35 percent in 2019. This sentiment spans various demographics, including young adults and immigrants.

Despite the focus on the TFW program, it represents a small fraction of the overall guest worker population. At the end of 2024, there were 236,000 individuals in Canada through the TFW program, compared to 986,000 international students, many of whom rely on work to support their studies. Additionally, the International Mobility Program (IMP) accounted for 1.283 million workers at the end of last year, a program that lacks stringent checks on employers' claims regarding the availability of Canadian workers.

Eby has pointed out that some employers make questionable claims on labor market assessments, citing examples like Starbucks and Boston Pizza. The traditional immigration program, which approves about 440,000 new permanent residents annually, has not kept pace with the surge in temporary residents since 2015. In fact, half of the new permanent residents this year were already in Canada as temporary residents.

The immigration department has reported a decline in the number of new temporary workers and foreign students arriving in Canada. Between January and June 2025, there were 125,903 fewer new temporary workers and 88,617 fewer new students compared to the same period in 2024. However, these figures do not account for visa renewals or those working in Canada for less than nine months.

Post-secondary institutions in British Columbia, such as Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Langara College, have reported a significant drop in international enrollment, ranging from 40 to 60 percent. Despite these declines, Canada’s population continues to grow, albeit at a slower rate. In the first half of 2025, over 170,000 new temporary residents arrived, down from 289,000 in the same period in 2024.

The proportion of temporary residents in Canada has increased from 2.3 percent in 2015 to 7 percent in 2023. Metro Vancouver officials recently adjusted their growth estimates, now projecting an increase of 42,500 people annually, down from 50,000, with nine out of ten newcomers attributed to international migration.

Efforts to obtain accurate migration data from the federal government have proven challenging. Researchers, including former immigration department director Anne Michèle Meggs, have faced bureaucratic hurdles in accessing timely and clear information. In contrast, other countries, such as the United Kingdom, have more transparent reporting on visa overstays.

As the conversation around migration continues, the challenges of government transparency and the stigma surrounding discussions of immigration policy remain significant obstacles.