RED DEER – Alberta premier Ed Stelmach promises that the province is close to an agreement with the federal government to bring in more immigrant labour.
Potential employers want extensions on temporary work permits and a more streamlined provincial nomination program to help immigrant workers stay in the country. Under the temporary program they may stay only a year, but employers would prefer it to be two years.
“We are working with the federal government to ensure more people, once they decide to come to Alberta, that they stay here and contribute to the work environment,” Stelmach told an Alberta beef industry conference in Red Deer Feb. 22.
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Alberta also wants Ottawa to make it easier to bring in immigrants with the skills needed to fill agriculture jobs, he added. Quebec has a special side deal providing more money to entice immigrants as well as the ability to select people based on language.
“We are working toward the same goal where we want to attract people to the province based on skills and the kind of skills that are required here,” Stelmach said.
Feedlot operator Leighton Kolk presented a resolution at the Alberta Cattle Feeders annual meeting to co-operate with groups such as pork producers to develop a job description check list and a listing of available positions to make it easier to bring in foreign workers.
Pork producers created a list of job descriptions so workers and Immigration Canada would better understand what is required for each position. They also work together to cut through the requirements involved in bringing in foreign workers.
Farm labour shortages are a problem throughout Canada.
The cattle feeders association hired a labour consultant to evaluate the worker supply and what needs to be done to find much-needed help.
Kevin Blanchette told the meeting that the agriculture sector is one of the industries most affected by the tight labour market and has not been regarded as a good career.
“There is no clear, tangible pathway that will promote the industry as a career,” he said.
While it is nearly impossible to compete with oil industry or construction wages, employers are mistaken if they think money is all that motivates workers.
“It is typically about fourth or fifth on the list of what employees are looking for when they are considering joining the organization,” he said.
They are looking at perks such as benefits, housing, day care and education opportunities.
Many agricultural jobs are filled by word of mouth and because many operations are far from a large metropolitan centre, employers do not think to advertise to a broader audience.
It is harder to attract young people, Blanchette said, and many employers are concerned about the quality of the workers and their commitment to the company. Good ones are attractive to other agricultural employers as well as construction and petroleum industries, which may lure them away with better offers.
“Those that are skilled and are recognized as skilled can garner a lot of attractive offers.”
He said not enough work is being done within agricultural organizations to promote rural advantages. Employers should promote the advantages of living in a smaller centre where the workers’ families may join them. Some may appreciate the chance to work outdoors with relatively little supervision.
At the same time, employers need to develop a best practices standard so people are well treated and willing to stay.
Workforce analyst David Baxter said there are other pools from which to recruit.
He advised agricultural employers to consider approaching people from other provinces and recruiting First Nations people, many of whom are young and have rural backgrounds.
