The Wheat Growers are calling on the federal government to create a dedicated agricultural stream within the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, citing rapid growth in reliance on foreign labour.
Over the past two decades, agriculture’s use of temporary foreign workers has grown nearly five-fold, rising from 17,000 in 2005 to almost 80,000 today. That means close to one in five workers on Canadian farms are sourced through the TFW Program.
“The current system was never designed for the scale and complexity of today’s agriculture,” said Kenton Possberg, Director, Wheat Growers. “We support overall reform where loopholes must be closed, misuse must be addressed, and the program rationalized to align with our economic and social means. But at the same time, agriculture cannot be left without the labour we need to plant, harvest, and deliver food to Canadians and to our export markets.”
The Wheat Growers are pressing for the creation of a separate, agriculture-focused program that would reflect the diversity of the sector, from crop production to horticulture to food processing. Such a program would guarantee farmers timely access to seasonal and skilled workers, while also building public trust through stronger transparency and accountability measures.
“We are not asking for more temporary foreign workers,” added Possberg. “We are asking for a smarter, more ag-oriented system. Agriculture is unique, and it needs its own program to make sure Canadian food security and export strength are never put at risk.”
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