Thank you, Portia.
A number of industry leaders have come forward to create Canada's national labour task force. Together with the support of CAHRC, they have researched and documented an agriculture and agrifood workforce action plan. It includes very clear short-, medium-, and long-term solutions to ensure the industry can get ahead of workforce shortages so that it can thrive and grow well into the future. Specifically, it identifies the need to increase the supply of labour and improve the knowledge and the skills of workers.
This plan is supported by 85 leading industry organizations, agrifood companies, and municipal leaders across Canada, as you can see on the slide. The plan, which was referenced in the HUMA committee review, includes recommendations for government to provide funding for industry to address these critical and chronic labour shortages with action items such as a national career awareness initiative and outreach to new immigrants being settled in urban centres so they can better connect with agricultural career opportunities.
Growth for the sector also involves securing international workers when Canadians are not available. The workforce action plan includes a very specific recommendation to improve agricultural components of the temporary foreign worker program into an agriculture and agrifood worker international workforce program with three distinct streams: the seasonal agricultural worker program to remain an identifiable, stand-alone program for seasonal workers and farmers; the agricultural stream; and a new agrifood stream. Both need fixes and both should support an immigration pathway to permanency for farm and food workers. This recommended international workforce program was referenced by the HUMA committee report.
It is also recommended that an interdepartmental advisory council for the industry be developed to support improved labour availability. This council should include Employment and Social Development Canada, Service Canada, the immigration department, and the agriculture department. Many issues affecting the industry are interdepartmental and multi-jurisdictional. Departments must work more closely together and consult more fully with industry stakeholders to find the best methods to meet growing demand and support the sector with its labour requirements.
This truly is an industry with high growth potential. However, achieving that potential and meeting the ambitious export targets set by the federal government will be a challenge. It will require collaboration and strategic action to grow the agri workforce. It is urgent that due focus and attention be given to these activities now. By taking these steps, Canada will be able to secure and grow its position as a world leader in agriculture and food production, and increase the extensive benefits the industry provides to Canadians and to people around the world.
I have one final comment, if I may. I would be remiss in not supporting the first speaker in identifying that the recently announced changes to the small business corporations in the tax act would be devastating to farmers in their current form. We have more than 220,000 farm families across this country who are all middle-class small business owners. We need to have some recognition that these changes are a problem for us. I would applaud the minister today. He did an op-ed in The Western Producer indicating that he's recognized how important agriculture is, and indicating a willingness to revisit the suggested changes. I want to highlight how important those are, because it's a real concern.
Thank you.