Thank you.
Mr. Chair and members of the committee, thank you for the invitation to participate in this committee’s study.
I am Peggy Brekveld, chair of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council. My comments today will focus on the value of temporary foreign workers to the Canadian agriculture industry.
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, or CAHRC, has been examining the workforce needs of the Canadian agriculture sector for more than 15 years. CAHRC, along with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Food and Beverage Canada, is leading the national workforce strategic plan for agriculture and food and beverage manufacturing. Together, we have engaged industry stakeholders on ways to address workforce shortages.
CAHRC’s most recent labour market research, released on November 1, illustrates the critical role the agriculture sector plays in the Canadian economy in fulfilling both domestic and global food, fuel and fibre demands. In 2022, the Canadian agriculture sector generated $38.8 billion in GDP, or 1.9% of the national total. Canada has established itself as a major producer of diverse and high-quality agricultural products. It ranks among the world's largest exporters, with $92.8 billion in agricultural and processed food exports in 2022.
Secure access to an affordable, safe and reliable food supply both for Canadians and for the world relies on a skilled and motivated workforce. The success of agriculture and its sector does as well. The data is impressive. In 2022, the agricultural sector, including crops and animal production, support services and agricultural wholesale, employed over 351,000 Canadian workers and 71,000 temporary foreign workers, including the seasonal ag worker program workers. Even with these additional workers from other parts of the world, the industry still experienced 28,200 job vacancies in the same year.
Over the next decade, expanding global markets for Canadian food products are expected to drive substantial growth in this sector. The challenges to meet this growth will need strategic responses. There are several ways that the industry is planning to address this. Part of that response will need to address a labour shortage that is already present and likely to grow. The national workforce strategic plan is examining this issue.
The care and well-being of agriculture workers, both domestic and foreign, are the top priority of agriculture employers. Agriculture employers work very closely with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada and Service Canada to ensure the oversights and regulations are in place to protect workers and employers, the processes continue to improve and bad actors are rooted out.
The industry’s goal is for workers, both domestic and foreign, to choose agriculture as a place to work. Having a stable, predictable and fully functioning workforce will benefit employers, employees and our food system. We know that Canada and Canadians deserve a stable food system, but as well, so do the countries around the world that depend on us for food.
I look forward to questions from the committee. Thank you.