A labour shortage in Alberta’s meat processing industry could lead to new pathways for permanent residency if the immigration pilot proposed in the 2019 federal budget goes as planned.
The new immigration pilot would make it easier for Alberta’s full-time agriculture workers to obtain permanent residency over its three-year lifespan, while encouraging workers to fill vacant spots in processing facilities and abattoirs. These facilities have seen a downturn in available labour since increased restrictions were placed on the Temporary Foreign Worker program in 2014.
A 2017 study by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council showed a 9.3% vacancy rate in meat processing facilities in rural areas, resulting in a loss of sales for the meat industry in Canada. An approximate $750 million in sales is lost annually for meat processors, and an additional $396 million is lost for related producers.
The new pilot will help save some of these losses, since giving employees an easier pathway to permanent residency will help make these jobs more stable over the long term.