Close X
Friday, November 29, 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

B.C. to ask Ottawa to change money laundering law

B.C. to ask Ottawa to change money laundering law
Niki Sharma says B.C. will ask for changes to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to bring Canadian law into harmony with the United States and United Kingdom.    

B.C. to ask Ottawa to change money laundering law

B.C. firm gets Health Canada's OK to sell cocaine

B.C. firm gets Health Canada's OK to sell cocaine
Adastra CEO Michael Forbes says it will evaluate how the commercialization of the substance fits in with its business model in an effort to position itself to support the demand for a safe supply of cocaine.    

B.C. firm gets Health Canada's OK to sell cocaine

Nordstrom announces wind-down of Canadian business

Nordstrom announces wind-down of Canadian business
The e-commerce platform will cease operations on March 2, 2023. The in-store wind-down is anticipated to be completed by late June 2023. Nordstrom Canada operates 6 Nordstrom stores and 7 Nordstrom Rack stores, as well as the Nordstrom.ca website, and employs approximately 2,500 people.

Nordstrom announces wind-down of Canadian business

Ottawa no longer shipping COVID tests to provinces

Ottawa no longer shipping COVID tests to provinces
Ottawa has ordered more than 811 million rapid tests since the beginning of the pandemic with a price tag of about $5 billion. About 680 million of those went to provinces and territories.

Ottawa no longer shipping COVID tests to provinces

Visitors can continue applying for work permits inside Canada

Visitors can continue applying for work permits inside Canada
The move, an extension of a Covid-era temporary public policy that was set to expire today, has now been extended by two years, until February 28, 2025. Visitors applying under this public policy who held a work permit within the last 12 months will also continue to be able to request interim work authorization to begin working for their new employer more quickly.

Visitors can continue applying for work permits inside Canada

Victim punched in stomach and knocked to the ground, suspects robbed him of his headphones

Victim punched in stomach and knocked to the ground, suspects robbed him of his headphones
The victim was walking towards the New Westminster SkyTrain Station at approximately 9:00 am when he was punched in the stomach and knocked to the ground by two men he didn’t know. One of the suspects robbed him of his headphones before both suspects fled the area.

Victim punched in stomach and knocked to the ground, suspects robbed him of his headphones