Marlon Gay is breathing a little easier today than he was at the beginning of the week. The Trinidadian working on a farm in Canada received word Dec. 13 he could apply for an open work permit which would ensure he maintained his health and Employment Insurance. Why it matters: The work visas of temporary […] Read more
Tag Archives foreign workers — page 2
Stranded foreign workers get reprieve
They can now apply for an open work permit to find work and keep social programs
Poll says Canadians support path to residency for foreign workers
Close to 80 per cent had a positive response to the idea of permanent residency for foreign workers
A survey commissioned by two Canadian senators says that more than eight in 10 Canadians would support or somewhat support providing a way for temporary migrant workers to remain in Canada. The poll was conducted by Nanos Research and was commissioned by Senator Rob Black, an Ontario senator with close ties to agriculture, and Senator […] Read more
Strategy created for 2021 planting worker protection
The government and industry collaborated on the detailed strategy for farm workers
The Ontario horticulture sector has been the hardest hit of agriculture sectors by COVID-19, but it has a plan in place to help reduce risk from the virus when foreign workers arrive for 2021 planting. OMAFRA and producer groups came together to create a 35-point plan that outlines areas of responsibility and direction to help […] Read more
Farm worker protections get more funding
Program means double the previous limit that can be claimed by farms
The Canadian and Ontario governments are investing more in protections for farm workers. The additional $11.6 million aims to help support Ontario producers to stop the spread of COVID-19 on their farms. Why it matters: Ontario farmers have incurred significant costs since COVID-19 meant infections on some farms, especially for seasonal foreign workers. The funds […] Read more
New pilot program for agri-food labour welcomed
Meat processors, greenhouse and mushroom growers, livestock producers get first crack at program
Ottawa — Federal officials hope a new pilot program will help stabilize ongoing labour issues in certain sectors of the agri-food value chain, while also providing citizenship to some foreign workers. Critics, however, contend more support is needed. “This pilot will help to ensure that farmers and processors have the much-needed skills, experience and labour […] Read more
Foreign workers starting to arrive, livestock group says
About 2,000 have recently arrived, several thousand more here soon, feeders say
About 2,000 foreign workers have arrived in Canada in recent weeks and more should be here soon, an official with the National Cattle Feeders Association says. “There are about 4,000 more that are expected to arrive shortly, so the process is starting to work,” Janice Tranberg, the association’s president and CEO, said during a telephone […] Read more
Foreign workers leave families behind, but also see opportunity
More workers from other countries are filling empty farming roles, including on hog farms
Farmtario will continue to check in with Helen Espinola as she settles into her two-year work term in Canada. Helen Espinola left behind her husband and two children in the Philippines to work on a hog barn on the norther border of Huron County. She’s a farrowing room technician who says she loves working with […] Read more
Agriculture foreign workers get new path to residency
Updated, July 15 — The federal government has announced a pilot program that will make it easier for farms and food companies to maintain workers they recruit from around the world. Ahmed Hussen, minister for immigration, refugees and citizenship, announced the program Friday at Maple Leaf Foods in Mississauga. Why it matters: There’s a labour […] Read more
Canada may delay foreign worker limits as packers, farms face squeeze
Winnipeg | Reuters — Canada may delay implementing new restrictions on the use of foreign workers as farmers and meat processors warn of severe labour shortages in one of the world’s biggest agricultural exporters, the employment minister said. Employers have reported difficulty finding workers despite a 7.1 per cent unemployment rate. Many Canadians resist jobs […] Read more
Foreign worker break for seafood sector a ‘one-time’ deal
Winnipeg | Reuters –– Canada’s move to loosen restrictions on hiring foreign workers for East Coast seafood plants was a one-time decision, and the government is not convinced other sectors need similar measures, the country’s employment minister said Thursday. The Liberal government eased restrictions under its foreign worker program recently for Atlantic seafood processors, allowing […] Read more
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