In 2024, the Canadian government decided to reduce the number of foreign temporary workers after a significant increase in their numbers. Experts pointed out that this growth had led to increased unemployment among permanent immigrants and young people in the country. As part of this effort, the government imposed a new rule that limits the number of temporary workers a company can hire to no more than 10 percent of its total workforce. These changes have led to the expiration of many existing work permits, which has caused labor shortages in several key sectors of the economy. The reduction in temporary workers has sparked frustration and dissatisfaction among those affected. According to The Globe and Mail, temporary workers have been protesting across several provinces for the past year. In Quebec, companies are still struggling to find enough local workers and have continued to recruit abroad, even as some workers who were already hired and integrated into the workforce are losing their jobs, as reported by La Presse. One such worker, Ruby Lu, a Chinese citizen whose work permit will expire in 2026, shared her concerns during a protest in Winnipeg in July. Speaking to the Winnipeg Free Press, she said, "We came here for a few years, we worked for a few years, we paid taxes. Some of us have already bought a house." Her comments reflect the broader sentiment of temporary workers who feel their contributions are being overlooked despite their efforts to settle and contribute to Canadian society. In response to the labor shortages, immigration authorities introduced a temporary policy in early September that allows holders of valid work permits to study without a separate study permit, provided the program lasts six months or less. This policy is intended to help temporary workers acquire new skills that are in demand in Canada’s labor market, thereby increasing their value to employers. However, the government emphasized that this is not a new pathway for foreign workers to enter the country and that it remains committed to reducing the number of temporary workers to less than 5 percent of the total population—approximately 41 million people—by the end of 2027. The policy can also be revoked at any time, without prior notice. As of June 30, Canada had over 1.5 million temporary workers with work permits and around 630,000 foreign students with study permits.