Temporary Foreign Workers in Agriculture: A Call for Reform
The Issue
Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program has grown well beyond its original scope. Loopholes have been exploited, public trust has eroded, and reliance has ballooned across sectors. Farmers agree: the program needs a reset.
Agriculture’s Reality
Agriculture is not like other industries. Labour needs are seasonal, specialized, and essential to food security. Over the past two decades, agriculture’s use of temporary foreign workers has surged:
- 2005: 17,000 workers
- Today: nearly 80,000 workers, almost one in five on Canadian farms
This growth highlights two truths:
- Agriculture depends on foreign labour to maintain production.
- The current TFW framework is not sustainable or designed for our sector’s specific needs.
Our Ask
The Wheat Growers call for a separate and specialized Temporary Foreign Worker Program for agriculture. This new program must:
- Recognize the diversity of agriculture, from crop production to horticulture to food processing.
- Guarantee timely and reliable access to the skills farmers require.
- Reduce misuse by focusing eligibility and closing loopholes.
- Build public trust with transparency, fairness, and accountability.
Why It Matters
Without reform, Canada risks undermining food security, export competitiveness, and the viability of rural economies. Farmers are ready to be constructive partners in building a credible, transparent, and sustainable labour program for agriculture.
Our Commitment
The Wheat Growers stand for:
- A smaller, more focused TFW system across the economy.
- A dedicated, agriculture-specific program that meets real labour needs.
- A fair and accountable system that Canadians can trust.
Canada’s food security, trade strength, and rural communities depend on it.