QUESTION PERIOD — Employment and Social Development
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
June 12, 2025
Senator Gold, Canadian agriculture and agri-food contributed $150 billion to our GDP in 2023 — that’s roughly 7% of GDP — and plays a vital role in the health and prosperity of both rural and urban communities across this country.
But our farmers are facing a worsening labour crisis. Over 28,000 agricultural jobs went unfilled in 2022, even after more than 70,000 temporary foreign workers were brought to Canada to help meet demand. This workforce represents over 20% of the total employment in agriculture, and in some areas, like horticulture, the sector simply cannot function without it. The Royal Bank of Canada also warns that by 2033, 40% of farm operators will retire. It’s clear that the labour shortage is only getting worse.
Given this reality, will the government exempt the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, especially for agriculture, from its plan to cap temporary residents at under 5% of Canada’s population by 2027?
Thank you, senator, for your question and your continued advocacy for the agricultural industry.
The government understands that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is essential to our economy and, in particular, to supporting crucial sectors including agriculture as well as others such as fisheries and tourism. The government is committed to ensuring the quick arrival of temporary workers to meet employer needs and fill labour market vacancies.
That said, I cannot speculate as to any potential changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, but I can say that the government remains in close coordination with provincial and territorial counterparts on the path forward to ensure sustainable immigration while also addressing these critical labour needs.
Senator Gold, promises and platitudes will not suffice for much longer in the industry and only continue to threaten our food security.
How does your government plan to ensure Canadians continue to have reliable access to affordable Canadian-grown food when fewer and fewer temporary foreign workers are coming to Canada?
I should not waste my time deciding how to react to the characterization of my statements as platitudes. The fact remains that Minister Hajdu is reviewing streams within the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to better address current labour needs, and I have every confidence that these issues are being taken into account.
