Officials from four federal departments joined the Agriculture and Agri-food Labour Task Force and Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council partners last week to discuss critical labour shortages in agriculture and its effect on industry growth.

Sixty-seven workforce action plan partners met with officials from Employment and Social Development Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Statistics Canada.

“The Council believes that the best way to address the labour shortages in primary agriculture and agri-food processing is through collaboration,“ explained Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst, CAHRC Executive Director. “We had a clear willingness among all parties to talk and work together to find solutions. The Council is very pleased with today’s outcomes and will continue to work diligently to find solutions.”

Highlights of the meeting included an update on research and recruitment activities being conducted the council including reaching out to new Canadians and incoming refugees.

Discussions turned to the need to streamline the permanent residency process for foreign workers who are willing and skilled at agricultural and agri-food labour.

Government officials have been invited to join producers and the agri-food industry at the council's “Growing the Agriworkforce" summit, March 14 – 16 in Winnipeg.

Farm tours for civil servants are being planned by CAHRC and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture to help develop greater understanding and awareness of agricultural issues, particularly related to labour.

Mark Wales...Co-Chair of the Labour Task Force says “Before a problem can be fixed, it has to be understood.