Canada’s largest food-processing union, UFCW Canada, and the Canadian Meat Council have issued a joint statement urging Ottawa to create a dedicated immigration pathway that grants permanent residence to essential workers in the sector. The rare labour-management alliance was announced on 27 October 2025, months after the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot was cancelled.
The pilot, which expires 14 May 2025, capped applications at 1,010 this year and left processing plants scrambling for labour as chronic shortages worsened. Employers argue that seasonal work-permit renewals are costly and deter long-term retention, while unions say temporary status leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation.
Their proposal mirrors the caretaker program introduced for health-care aides in 2022: eligible meat-cutters, butchers and food-manufacturing technicians would receive a two-year work permit followed by an expedited PR stream conditional on language proficiency and full-time job offers.
With Prime Minister Mark Carney promising to “match immigration to real labour-market needs,” analysts believe Agriculture Minister Chantal Petitpas Taylor could fold the idea into next week’s Immigration Levels Plan. If adopted, the pathway would stabilize staffing in a $39-billion industry that underpins Canada’s food security and export competitiveness.
Global mobility teams in agribusiness should watch for consultation invitations and prepare impact assessments, as new criteria could influence recruitment strategies for 2026 and beyond.
The pilot, which expires 14 May 2025, capped applications at 1,010 this year and left processing plants scrambling for labour as chronic shortages worsened. Employers argue that seasonal work-permit renewals are costly and deter long-term retention, while unions say temporary status leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation.
Their proposal mirrors the caretaker program introduced for health-care aides in 2022: eligible meat-cutters, butchers and food-manufacturing technicians would receive a two-year work permit followed by an expedited PR stream conditional on language proficiency and full-time job offers.
With Prime Minister Mark Carney promising to “match immigration to real labour-market needs,” analysts believe Agriculture Minister Chantal Petitpas Taylor could fold the idea into next week’s Immigration Levels Plan. If adopted, the pathway would stabilize staffing in a $39-billion industry that underpins Canada’s food security and export competitiveness.
Global mobility teams in agribusiness should watch for consultation invitations and prepare impact assessments, as new criteria could influence recruitment strategies for 2026 and beyond.
