New immigration pilot to attract workers in the agri-food sector
Credit to Author: Canadian Immigrant| Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2019 21:18:24 +0000
Canada is launching a new three-year economic immigration pilot that will fill labour shortages, particularly in meat processing and mushroom production, within the agri-food sector and help meet Canada’s ambitious export targets.
The agriculture and agri-food industry is an important contributor to Canada’s economic growth and vitality, supporting one in eight jobs across the country. Agricultural exports hit a new record in 2018, reaching $66.2 billion. Over the past several years, industries such as meat processing and mushroom production have experienced ongoing difficulty in finding and keeping new employees.
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen points out that the pilot is “another example of how immigration is helping to grow local economies and creating jobs for Canadians.”
This new pilot aims to attract and retain workers by providing them with an opportunity to become permanent residents. “Temporary foreign workers who come to this country and work hard filling permanent jobs should have a fair and reasonable chance to become a Canadian regardless of the job they are filling,” says Rodger Cuzner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour. Temporary foreign workers will be able to apply under this pilot in early 2020.
The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot complements Canada’s economic immigration strategy, which includes the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, the Global Skills Strategy, a revitalized Express Entry and an expanded Provincial Nominee Program.