Labour
Growers hire Canadians first, and conduct ongoing and rigorous recruitment. Labour advocacy is important for the future of our industry.
ENSURING LABOUR STABILITY FOR CANADA’S FRESH PRODUCE SECTOR
Labour is a significant and persistent challenge facing Canada’s fruit and vegetable growers.
The sector depends on access to workers to plant, manage, harvest, pack, and ship highly perishable crops. Outdoor crops operate within narrow seasonal production windows, while greenhouse systems depend on continuous production cycles.
When labour is unavailable, delayed, or uncertain, growers face immediate operational risks. Labour disruptions can lead to lost crops, reduced production, and weakened competitiveness.
Supporting workers and growers
Federal compliance systems must protect workers while providing fair, timely, and consistent treatment for compliant employers.
Growers need clear communication, predictable service standards, and reduced red tape across federal agricultural labour programs. Investments in worker housing, healthcare access, transportation, and rural infrastructure are also essential to recruitment, retention, and worker well-being.
FVGC recommends the Government of Canada:
- Preserve the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program as a pillar of Canada’s fruit and vegetable production system.
- Maintain and reinforce the AgStream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
- Introduce greater flexibility within the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, including through the transfer process.
- Improve transparency, communication, and service standards across Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Employment and Social Development Canada; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; the Canada Revenue Agency; and external industry partners involved in agricultural labour programs.
- Reduce delays, red tape, and uncertainty for growers.
- Remove the Job Bank advertising requirement for agricultural labour.
- Invest in rural agricultural infrastructure, including worker housing, healthcare access, and transportation.
A Food Lens for Labour Policy
Labour policy directly affects domestic food production, farm viability, supply chains, and access to Canadian-grown fruit and vegetables. Applying a food lens means ensuring federal labour decisions reflect the realities of perishable production and the operational needs of Canada’s fruit and vegetable sector.
For more information
please contact FVGC by submitting this form.