SashaKhalabuzar / Depositphotos.com
Union and employers push for new immigration path for food workers
OTTAWA— Canada’s largest food manufacturing union and leading employer groups are urging the federal government to create a permanent immigration pathway for essential food sector workers.
Their joint call comes after the cancellation of the Agri Food Immigration Pilot earlier this year. It was one of the few programs that recognized the permanent, year round nature of jobs in the food processing sector. Advocates say its end has left employers and workers without a reliable option at a time when labour shortages are putting pressure on production.
“Lack of consistent labour is one of the biggest barriers to growth in our sector,” said Nestor Pawliuk, CEO of the Canadian Meat Council. “Businesses are investing in automation, training and recruitment, but those efforts cannot succeed without stable access to the people who make our plants run every day.”
Shawn Haggerty, national president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada, said workers deserve the chance to settle in the communities where they live and work.
“A fair and predictable immigration pathway is good for workers, families and the long term strength of the Canadian economy,” he said.
Food and beverage processing is Canada’s largest manufacturing employer, supporting more than 300,000 jobs and contributing over $35 billion a year to the national GDP. Meat processing accounts for the biggest share of that workforce. Industry leaders warn ongoing labour shortages are limiting production, reducing export capacity and hurting competitiveness abroad.
The federal government is preparing reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Labour and industry groups say the food sector must be included in those discussions given its reliance on year round operations, specialized skills that are scarce in Canada, and the rural settings where many plants operate.
They want a seat at the table as the reforms take shape, arguing that tailored solutions are needed to support the stability of a sector that Canadians depend on for daily essentials.
Comments