“A job is their heartbeat — a work permit, their lifeline.”

That’s how Jessica Juen, program manager at Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS), describes the precarious reality many temporary foreign workers face in Canada. For most, immigration status is tied to a single employer through a closed work permit.

In a single blow, they can lose their job, their housing and their right to stay in the country.

CCIS coordinates the federally funded Temporary Foreign Worker Support Hub, a collaborative initiative across the Prairie provinces that helps fill this gap. Most public settlement services don’t include temporary foreign workers. This program, funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), helps fill that gap with specialized support. It offers everything from case management and emergency housing to rights education, interpretation, and short-term essentials like food and clothing, all designed to support community inclusion.

That support became critical in 2024, when wildfires engulfed Jasper, Alberta, displacing entire communities. The town, heavily reliant on migrant labour in tourism and hospitality, saw dozens of workers lose both employment and housing overnight. This left them vulnerable to gaps in immigration status and support systems, and in urgent need of coordinated assistance.

“Having ESDC-funded partners made a huge difference,” said Juen. “Our teams in Edmonton and Calgary jumped in quickly. Community groups ran food and clothing drives, and Service Canada was on-site helping workers apply for EI.”

CCIS and its partners aim to prevent crises, or at least reduce their impact, by offering wraparound support. It starts at the airport, where newcomers are informed of their rights. The goal is to raise awareness early, so workers are better equipped to recognize and respond to issues before they escalate.

“Ideally, we’d like to reach workers even earlier, before they leave their home countries,” explained Juen. “That’s why we’re working with consulates and offering online orientations to introduce the supports waiting for them in Canada.”

The next layer of support happens in the communities where they settle, whether that’s Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba. CCIS focuses on education and connection through informal group sessions like social cafés and English classes. These are welcoming spaces where workers can practice their English language skills, learn about their rights and connect with others going through similar experiences.

“It’s really about helping them build a sense of community,” explained Juen. “We cover topics like mental health, workplace rights, Canadian culture, and immigration — whatever helps them feel informed and supported.”

She recalls one participant opening up about feeling overwhelmed during a particular social café conducted by Alberta Health Services.

“Because we had a trained professional in the room, we were able to connect him with help right away,” she said.

While the impact of the TFW Support Hub is undeniable, its future remains uncertain. At the time of writing, federal funding is set to expire in March 2026, with no guarantee of renewal. For Juen and her colleagues, the hope is that policymakers recognize the importance of keeping these lifeline services in place — not just during emergencies, but in the day-to-day interventions that prevent them.

For Juen, the work is personal. “When I first came to Canada, I came from a corporate world; I was in a bit of a bubble,” she said. That changed in 2009, when a migrant worker came to see her after being laid off.

“He was crying, visibly shaken, terrified about how he was going to feed his family. That moment shifted everything. I saw firsthand how the system can wear people down — people who came here full of hope.”

“These are workers who were seen as vital when Canada needed them most. Now, it feels like they are being pushed aside. Their presence here is reduced to a transaction, not something that’s truly valued.”

Calgary Catholic Immigration Society coordinates the TFW Support Hub across the Prairie provinces, supporting temporary foreign workers who are excluded from most public settlement services. To learn more or get in touch, visit https://ccisab.ca/tfw-hub/.

You can also contact the hotline for referrals to this program or other services in your community: 1-833-900-1010.