There is probably a mix. I would agree with you that the term “temporary foreign worker” probably doesn't typically define every situation. We've stopped using that term internally and have started referring to them as “global workers”, but in some cases these workers are temporary. They're here to work on a project for two years, transfer their knowledge, learn skills themselves, and then go back to where they're from.
Our company has also used the nominee program to bring people in. A lot of the temporary foreign workers who come into our companies end up becoming permanent residents and Canadian citizens afterwards, so some of those who come in under the temporary foreign worker program end up using the nominee program.