In March, under political pressure to do something about the housing crisis, the federal government announced changes to the number of temporary residents allowed into Canada starting May 1.
On the surface, this may not seem to directly impact agriculture if farms and agribusinesses typically utilize seasonal worker programs. But a closer look at three key aspects of this change suggests that Canada’s agri-processing industry could face a severe labor shortage.
To explain the new policy and its potential impacts, RealAg Radio host Sean Haney is joined by Lauren Martin, senior director of government relations for the Canadian Meat Council. Martin said there are pressing issues, such as a reduction in the total number of workers companies can hire under temporary worker programs, as well as procedural issues that could make it more difficult to secure a workforce. explain.
In short, this policy shift is hasty and cumbersome for program participants, and appears unlikely to result in any changes to the housing problem. Listen to the discussion:
subscribe: apple podcast | spotify | | all podcasts
