• Labour Shortages Are Growing: Even with continued access to international workers, the sector is projected to face a shortfall of 30,000 workers by 2030. 

• Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) Are Essential: Over 60,000 seasonal and temporary workers from other countries support Canadian fruit and vegetable farms annually through four Primary Agriculture streams of the TFW Program—including the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) and the Ag Stream—filling positions left vacant despite domestic hiring efforts.

• Processing Delays Hurt Growers: Approval processes for work permits and employment authorizations (known as Labour Market Impact Assessments) can take 6 to 8 weeks or longer, causing late worker arrivals, missed harvest windows, and preventable crop losses. 

Without a reliable workforce, Canada risks losing domestic production capacity—undermining food security, rural economic development, and trade opportunities. 

1. Streamline Work Permit Processing 
   Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) must establish clear service standards for processing work permits related to food production. Delays and administrative errors are currently holding up worker arrivals, which results in serious consequences for growers and food supply. 
2. Preserve and Strengthen the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) 
   SAWP has operated for more than 50 years through bilateral agreements with participating countries. It is a proven model that includes annual reviews and strong accountability mechanisms. Canada should build on this success when making reforms to other temporary worker programs, instead of creating new or duplicative processes. 
3. Recalibrate Oversight and Enforcement Practices 
   Recent shifts in how employment inspections are conducted—by both Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)—have led to a “guilty-until-proven-innocent” approach. For growers who are following all the rules and are long-standing participants, this causes unnecessary delays and costs. Oversight must protect workers’ rights while ensuring fair, timely treatment for employers acting in good faith. 

Growers cannot produce fresh fruits and vegetables without reliable access to workers. Streamlining processes, protecting proven programs like SAWP, and restoring balance in enforcement will help ensure timely access to labour—while protecting both workers and employers. The result: more Canadian-grown food on store shelves, stronger farm businesses, and more stable food prices for Canadian families.