Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada needs 30,000 new immigrants in agri sector: Report

Darpan News Desk IANS, 19 Apr, 2023 02:09 PM
  • Canada needs 30,000 new immigrants in agri sector: Report

Toronto, April 19 (IANS) Canada needs 30,000 permanent immigrants over the next decade to either start up their own farms, or take over existing ones, to address a looming labour crisis in the agriculture industry, says a new study.

According to a Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) research, 40 per cent of Canadian farm operators will retire by 2033, placing agriculture on the cusp of one of the biggest labour and leadership transitions in the country's history.

Over the same period, a shortfall of 24,000 general farm, nursery and greenhouse workers is expected to emerge, and in 10 years, 60 per cent of today's farm operators will be over the age of 65, that is, close to retirement.

Amidst all this, 66 per cent of producers do not have a succession plan in place, leaving the future of farmland in doubt, the study said.

Canada's agricultural sector is among the most diverse in the world though the degree of demand for foreign workers differs significantly by province and operation.

When it comes to more highly-skilled farm operators, Canada has always welcomed them from India, the Netherlands, China, the US and the UK.

However, in case of immigration of low-skilled labourers, better policies are needed because the Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) program, which remains a critical source of low-skilled labour, is just a provisional solution to a chronic issue, the study said.

Many of these TFWs who develop skills essential to seeding and harvests, must return to their home countries for short periods, and if they are unable to return to Canada, the country's on-farm workforce is dramatically reduced.

RBC researchers said that a pathway to permanent residency for experienced TFWs will immediately address this type of shortage.

Canada had started an agriculture-specific immigration pilot programme in 2020 to give a path to permanent residency for non-seasonal workers with experience, which is set to end in May 2023, a CBC News report said.

As of February 2023, more than 1,500 people have been admitted through the program in Ottawa province.

A department spokesperson told CBC that they are assessing the pilot programme "and the possible extension beyond its scheduled expiry".

The spokesperson added that giving migrants permanent residence "is not the solution to labour shortages".

MORE National ARTICLES

Liberals remain under pressure on interference

Liberals remain under pressure on interference
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday he will appoint a "special rapporteur" to probe foreign interference in Canada and recommend what more to do about it, among several measures aimed at responding to renewed scrutiny of the Liberal response so far.

Liberals remain under pressure on interference

Trudeau announces new supports for Ukraine

Trudeau announces new supports for Ukraine
Canada will extend the Operation Unifier mission to provide engineering training in Ukraine until at least October, and Canadian medical trainers will be sent to help Ukrainian forces with combat medical skills.

Trudeau announces new supports for Ukraine

Eby: Feds need to reform bail system now

Eby: Feds need to reform bail system now
Eby, speaking at a news conference, says B.C. residents are "very frustrated — and rightly so — with the small group of repeat, violent offenders" who are "cycling in and out" of the justice system.  

Eby: Feds need to reform bail system now

B.C. invests $200 million in food security

B.C. invests $200 million in food security
Eby says the "historic" investment in B.C.'s food security comes as a direct response to events that occurred in the past few years, when flooding, wildfires and COVID supply-chain bottlenecks "essentially cut off" crucial supply lines in the province.

B.C. invests $200 million in food security

'Impossible to deny' hate increase in B.C.: report

'Impossible to deny' hate increase in B.C.: report
Kasari Govender released a nearly 500-page report Tuesday detailing the results of her office's public inquiry into hate incidents during the pandemic. The report says hate incidents have increased dramatically during the pandemic, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities, along with increases in gender-based violence, and online hate.

'Impossible to deny' hate increase in B.C.: report

B.C. overdose figure tops 200 again: coroner

B.C. overdose figure tops 200 again: coroner
A statement from the coroner's office says the death rate in January was 47 people per 100,000, more than double the 20.5 death rate that prompted B.C.'s medical health officer to declare the emergency almost seven years ago.

B.C. overdose figure tops 200 again: coroner