The National Citizens Coalition is calling on Canadian employers to prioritize hiring domestic workers as youth unemployment reaches its highest level in two decades and immigration levels continue to surge.Alexander Brown, communications director for the coalition, said federal inaction on immigration reform has worsened employment prospects for young Canadians, who are now facing the worst summer job market in a generation."Canadians under 34 are losing hope, with 89% believing homeownership is now only for the rich," said Brown, citing an Ipsos poll. "Now they face a job market flooded by temporary foreign workers in retail and restaurants—sectors that used to employ youth starting out.".Government data shows that in the first quarter of 2025, over 817,000 newcomers entered Canada across permanent and temporary categories. The coalition argues this influx is straining housing, wages, and job availability.Despite promises to reduce immigration, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program continues to grow. The number of TFWs in restaurants has risen 634% since 2016, while retail has seen a 456% increase. Brown said these changes have effectively sidelined young Canadians.“The government’s failure to act is locking out a generation,” he said. “Businesses must step up and hire Canadian youth rather than relying on imported labour.”While Ottawa’s 2025 immigration plan proposes lowering permanent residency admissions to 395,000, the NCC said it does little to address what it called “millions” of temporary workers and international students affecting the labour market..The coalition called on businesses to stop relying on foreign labour and instead spend in training and upskilling Canadian youth. It also urged employers to advocate for stricter limits on the TFW program and better enforcement against abuse.The group’s demands to Ottawa include abolishing the TFWP, closing diploma mills and asylum loopholes, lowering permanent residency targets, and introducing country-specific caps.“We cannot allow another generation to be economically scarred by failed policy,” said Brown. “We need to hire Canadian and fix the system before it does irreversible harm.”
