(CANADA) Canada’s biggest union and employer groups in the food sector are urging Ottawa to create a new, dedicated immigration pathway that offers permanent residency to essential food workers. They warn that the cancellation of the Agri‑Food Immigration Pilot earlier in 2025 has left a serious gap during a period of chronic labour shortages.
The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) and UFCW Canada say the federal government must act quickly to provide a fair, predictable route to status for people who keep the country’s food system running.
Background: the Agri‑Food Pilot and its end
The Agri‑Food Pilot launched in 2020 to reflect the permanent, year‑round nature of many jobs in food manufacturing and processing. It was extended until May 14, 2025, and helped more than 4,500 workers and their families gain a stable future in Canada.
However, the pilot had a capped intake of 1,010 applications for 2025 and is now closed. Employers and migrant workers say this leaves them without a clear bridge to stay and build lives in the communities they serve.
Policy changes and sector context
- The food sector employs more than 300,000 people and contributes over $35 billion annually to Canada’s GDP.
- The end of the pilot has created uncertainty in plants and on production lines that rely on experienced staff.
- UFCW Canada stresses that people who sustain Canada’s food supply should have a stable way to settle permanently and bring their families.
Key labour pressures:
– In 2023, more than 28,000 agricultural jobs went unfilled during peak season, resulting in billions in lost sales.
– Employers report an aging workforce, rising retirements, and difficulty attracting Canadian workers to tough, year‑round roles.
– Many operations now depend on foreign labour to maintain output, keep supermarkets stocked, and meet export commitments.
The CMC and UFCW Canada are pushing for a “fair, predictable, and permanent” immigration pathway tailored to the food sector. They argue it would support workers and families while protecting the long‑term strength of the national food supply chain.
They also want government to involve employers and unions in shaping reforms — rather than apply a one‑size‑fits‑all approach that may not reflect on‑the‑floor realities.
Why timing matters: TFWP reforms and sector inclusion
With the federal government preparing changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) later in 2025, industry groups say it’s essential to include the food sector in those talks.
- Employers stress that stable access to workers is key to meeting demand and staying competitive.
- Unions stress that workers deserve a clear route to status, not a cycle of temporary permits that leaves families in limbo and workplaces under constant strain.
Impact on applicants, employers, and communities
A dedicated immigration pathway could:
- Provide clear steps to permanent residency for thousands in meat processing, greenhouse operations, and other key roles.
- Reduce uncertainty about future status for workers and their families.
- Encourage employers to invest in retention, training, and safety — improving throughput and workplace stability.
Practical consequences if nothing changes:
– Production falls and costs rise.
– Smaller communities lose anchors of local employment.
– Canada’s position in global markets weakens when reliable supply is undermined.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests programs that turn long‑term essential workers into permanent residents improve retention, safety training, and throughput, because employers can invest in staff without fearing sudden turnover.
Design priorities for a new pathway
Advocates say the program should be:
- Simple and predictable
- Clear on language rules, work experience thresholds, and accepted occupations
- Aligned with processing timelines that match production cycles
- Transparent on selection and quotas so plants can plan hiring and training months ahead
Important cautions:
– Avoid recategorizing essential, year‑round roles as seasonal when that doesn’t reflect reality (e.g., meat processing).
– Provide transition measures so current workers aren’t stranded between programs.
Suggested supports and implementation steps:
– Include employers and unions throughout design and implementation
– Offer targeted supports like job‑specific language training
– Recognize practical job demands: food safety certification, shift work, and rural locations
“Many of the people affected have built lives in Canada 🇨🇦, pay taxes, and support local schools and small businesses. Their expertise keeps production safe and efficient.” — UFCW Canada (paraphrased)
Effects on investment and local economies
Employers say the policy vacuum risks reversing gains made under the pilot. Plants that expanded capacity expecting stable staffing are now reconsidering shifts or postponing investment.
A clear pathway could:
– Stabilize employer plans and investments
– Protect jobs for Canadians
– Help recruit more local workers alongside experienced newcomers
Stakeholders stress collaboration between government, unions, and employers — not just consultative rounds but ongoing implementation oversight and public criteria.
Official resources and next steps
For official background on how the pilot worked, see the Agri‑Food Pilot page from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/agri-food.html
Although that program is closed, its structure — non‑seasonal roles, experience‑based eligibility, and employer participation — frames what a new pathway could adopt, with adjustments to reflect current shortages.
Who’s pushing for change and how to contact them
The organizations leading the push — CMC and UFCW Canada — direct questions to:
- Lauren Martin, Canadian Meat Council
- Derek Johnstone, UFCW Canada
They say they stand ready to work with Ottawa to craft a long‑term solution that keeps grocery shelves stocked, supports Canadian farmers, and offers essential workers a real chance at stability through permanent residency.
Key takeaways
- The closure of the Agri‑Food Pilot leaves a significant gap for year‑round food sector workers seeking permanent residency.
- Industry groups call for a permanent, sector‑specific pathway that is fair, predictable, and shaped with employer and union input.
- Policy design must be timely (ahead of TFWP reforms in late 2025), transparent, and include transition measures to avoid leaving current workers stranded.
- A stable pathway would benefit workers, employers, and communities, and help maintain Canada’s standing in global food markets.
In the meantime, workers and employers await signals from federal officials about next steps. Whether through a revived pilot or a new program, the sector’s message is consistent: build a permanent immigration pathway that matches the permanent work Canadians depend on every day.
This Article in a Nutshell
After the Agri‑Food Immigration Pilot closed on May 14, 2025, Canada’s largest food‑sector union (UFCW Canada) and employer group (Canadian Meat Council) urged the federal government to establish a permanent, sector‑specific immigration pathway to grant permanent residency to essential food workers. The pilot, launched in 2020, helped over 4,500 workers and families but capped applications in 2025, creating uncertainty amid chronic labour shortages. The food sector employs over 300,000 people and contributes more than $35 billion annually. Stakeholders want a simple, predictable program with clear eligibility, processing timelines that match production cycles, and employer‑union collaboration. They warn that without a stable pathway production, investments, and community economies could suffer as TFWP reforms approach later in 2025.
