Canada’s auditor general had scathing words for the federal department tasked with protecting temporary foreign workers on farms during COVID-19. Karen Hogan last week released four performance audits into COVID-19 programs, including how the government would ensure access to food if shortages developed and another on governance at the Canadian Dairy Commission. Employment and Social […] Read more
Tag Archives Temporary Foreign Workers Program
Meat packers demand change to foreign worker limits
A shortage of workers in Canada’s meat-packing industry is not new. Companies in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec and elsewhere have struggled to recruit and retain employees for decades. In the last 18 months, some have blamed the Canadian Emergency Relief Benefit for making the situation worse as some workers choose to stay at home, but the […] Read more
Permanent status eludes foreign workers
In January, there were more than 4,100 job vacancies for meat cutters and butchers at meat packing plants in Canada. The number of vacancies is now higher, as companies that process pork, beef and other livestock cannot hire enough Canadians or temporary foreign workers to fill the jobs. “Since we ran the survey… the numbers […] Read more
Free COVID-19 course for foreign workers, employers now available
An online course to help producers and international farm workers protect themselves from COVID-19 is being launched. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is offering the free guide in English, French and Spanish. Participants will learn methods of preventing the spread of COVID-19, which has caused deaths and illnesses on Canadian farms […] Read more
Health officials should follow advice of migrant advocates
Reports of vaccinations for seasonal farm employees and workers at processing plants is encouraging, but more attention must be paid to the needs of international farm workers. Despite the federal government failing to adopt more assertive measures dictating when these essential workers will receive their shots, many provinces are starting to report COVID-19 vaccinations are […] Read more
Prairie program set up to help foreign workers
The initiative includes providing information sessions for workers about illness prevention and personal protection
Fourteen groups across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have partnered in a nearly $2 million project primarily aimed at helping temporary foreign agricultural workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Obviously, the safety of these people is very important,” said Fariborz Birjandian, chief executive officer of the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, which is helping to lead the initiative. […] Read more
Bibeau vows clarity soon on temporary worker rules
Federal Minister of Agriculture Marie Claude Bibeau told members of a parliamentary committee March 12, that clarity for temporary foreign workers is coming soon. Previously, temporary foreign workers arriving in Canada had been told they could do their mandatory, government-required quarantine at or near their place of employment prior to March 15. Conservative party agricultural […] Read more
Farmers worry about foreign worker arrivals
Horticulture council says recent travel restrictions have created new uncertainty; more consultation would be welcome
Federal officials say it is too early to know if Canada will have enough seasonal agricultural workers arriving this year. Producers continue to raise concerns over recently announced travel restrictions, despite assurances from Ottawa the changes won’t affect the flow of international labour needed on farms and in processing facilities. During a Feb. 3 call […] Read more
Exemptions will expire in March: feds
For now, temporary foreign workers travelling to Canada won’t need to quarantine in a government supervised hotel when they get here, but by mid-March, Ottawa will put more stringent measures in place. Starting Feb. 22, non-essential travellers and essential workers arriving in Canada will be tested upon their arrival. Non-essential travellers are required to stay […] Read more
Foreign workers to lose travel exemptions in March
For now, temporary foreign workers travelling to Canada won’t need to quarantine in a government supervised hotel when they get here, but by mid-March, Ottawa will put more stringent measures in place. Starting Feb. 22, non-essential travellers and essential workers arriving in Canada will be tested upon their arrival. Non-essential travellers are required to stay […] Read more
