New federal approach maintains broader access to temporary foreign workers in rural communities while targeting occupations in other regions
Canadian farmers and agri-food employers facing persistent labour shortages could benefit from targeted changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program announced on Friday (November 6) aimed at giving rural businesses greater access to workers where Canadians and permanent residents are not available.
The Government of Canada has announced reforms that will change how employers can access the Low-Wage Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, with different rules depending on the size and location of the community.
For agriculture, the changes could be particularly important because much of Canada's primary production, livestock farming, greenhouse production and food processing occurs in rural areas where recruiting enough workers can be difficult.
Under the new approach, employers in rural communities will continue to have full access to all occupations within the Low-Wage Stream.
Employers in rural portions of large census metropolitan areas, or CMAs, and in smaller CMAs with populations between 100,000 and 250,000 will have more targeted access.
In those areas, access will be available for occupations identified through the Canadian Occupational Projection System, commonly known as COPS, along with additional occupations identified by provinces and territories.
Provinces and territories will also be able to remove occupations to better align the program with regional labour market conditions.
Agriculture Could Be Well Positioned
The changes could be significant for agricultural employers because several farm occupations are already recognized as priority occupations within the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Those include agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors, specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators, livestock labourers, harvesting labourers, and nursery and greenhouse labourers.
That distinction could help agricultural businesses located in areas affected by the more targeted rules, although individual employers will still need to determine whether the occupation and location of a position meet the applicable requirements.
For farms located in rural communities, the government's commitment to maintaining full access to all Low\-Wage Stream occupations could provide greater certainty when planning seasonal and year\-round staffing.
Location Will Matter
One of the biggest considerations for farmers will be exactly where an operation is located.
Two agricultural employers with similar workforce needs could potentially face different TFW Program access depending on whether their worksites are considered rural communities, rural areas within larger CMAs, or are located elsewhere.
That means farmers using the program will need to pay close attention not only to the occupation they are trying to fill but also to how the federal government classifies the location of their worksite.
The ability of provinces and territories to identify additional occupations could also become increasingly important for agriculture.
Labour shortages vary considerably across Canada. A livestock operation, greenhouse business, fruit grower, vegetable farm or food processor in one region may face workforce challenges that are very different from those experienced by an employer elsewhere in the country.
Giving provinces and territories greater input into eligible occupations could therefore provide more flexibility to respond to regional agricultural labour shortages.
Rural Employers Have Faced Persistent Worker Shortages
The federal government has acknowledged that rural communities can face particular difficulty attracting and retaining employees.
Earlier changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program tightened access to low-wage foreign workers as Ottawa sought to reduce reliance on temporary labour and ensure Canadians and permanent residents receive first opportunity for available jobs.
The government, however, has also recognized that rural employers can face labour market conditions that differ substantially from those in Canada's major urban centres.
Agriculture and food processing are among the sectors that have historically relied on temporary foreign workers to fill positions when domestic employees cannot be found.
Employers must still meet Temporary Foreign Worker Program requirements, including demonstrating efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents before hiring through the program.
What Farmers Should Watch
For agricultural employers, the practical impact of the latest reforms will ultimately depend on three factors:
- The location of the farm or business
- The occupation being filled
- Any occupation lists established or adjusted by individual provinces and territories.
Farmers using the Low-Wage Stream should therefore monitor both federal and provincial implementation details as the reforms take effect.
The changes do not eliminate the requirements associated with hiring temporary foreign workers. Rather, they attempt to target access more closely toward regions and occupations where employers continue to experience legitimate labour shortages.
For farms in rural Canada, however, maintaining access to all Low-Wage Stream occupations could prove particularly important.
When weather, livestock care or harvest schedules dictate when work must be completed, an unfilled position can quickly become more than a human resources problem. It can affect production, animal care, harvest timing and ultimately the financial performance of the farm.
The new approach indicates that Ottawa intends to preserve access to foreign workers in rural communities while tailoring the broader Temporary Foreign Worker Program more closely to regional labour market conditions.
For agriculture, the details of how those geographic and occupational rules are implemented will determine just how meaningful that flexibility becomes.
Read the related article: Canada Makes Rural Immigration Program Permanent to Address Labour Shortages.