AGRI-FOOD IMMIGRATION PILOT
In order to attract and retain the workers needed to sustain and grow this output, the Government of Canada introduced the three-year Agri-Food Immigration Pilot to provide eligible temporary foreign workers in the sector with a pathway to Canadian permanent residence.
ELIGIBLE OCCUPATIONS
- Retail butcher.
- Industrial butcher.
- Food processing labourer.
- Harvesting labourer for year-round mushroom production and greenhouse crop production.
- General farm worker for year-round mushroom production, greenhouse crop production, or livestock raising.
- Farm supervisor and specialized livestock worker for meat processing, year-round mushroom production, greenhouse crop production or livestock raising.
ELIGIBLILITY REQUIREMENTS
- 12 months of full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in one of the eligible occupations.
- A Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 in English or French.
- The foreign equivalent of a high school level education or greater.
- An indeterminate job offer for full-time, non-seasonal work in Canada, outside of Quebec, at or above the prevailing wage.
2-YEAR LMIA FOR EMPLOYERS
Eligible employers in the meat processing sector who use the pilot will be issued a two-year Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
In order to be eligible, meat processors will be required to outline their plans to support the temporary foreign worker in obtaining permanent residency.
Unionized meat processors will require a letter of support from their union and non-unionized meat processors will have to meet additional requirements to ensure the labour market and migrant workers are protected, IRCC says.
