18.76°C Vancouver

May 8, 2023 7:08 PM - The Canadian Press

Pilot program for temporary agricultural workers extended

Share On
pilot-program-for-temporary-agricultural-workers-extended
It was due to end later this month but Fraser says it's going to continue until 2025. The Canadian Press (Translated by: Connect News)

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says the government will expand a pilot project to attract more temporary foreign workers to jobs in Canada's agricultural industry for another two years.

The government launched the program three years ago to offer temporary workers in the agriculture and food sector a pathway to permanent residency in Canada.

It was due to end later this month but Fraser says it's going to continue until 2025.

He says the pilot experienced some challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the government wants more time to test it out.

The minister also says the family members of workers who make it into the program will be given open work permits so they can earn a living while they're in Canada.

The agricultural sector is struggling with labour shortages, and the minister says if they're not addressed it could hurt Canada's food security.

Latest news

death-toll-in-lisbon-streetcar-crash-rises-to-17-as-investigators
WorldSep 04, 2025

Death toll in Lisbon streetcar crash rises to 17 as investigators

The death toll in the crash of a famous Lisbon streetcar popular with tourists has risen to 17 after two of the 23 injured people died from their injuries while in hospital care. A Portuguese emergency services official said Thursday that the dead were all adults. The head of Lisbon's Civil Protection Agency declined to provide their names or nationalities. The official said that their families would be informed first. She said that another 21 people were injured in Wednesday's crash. More than half were foreigners. The cause of the crash was under investigation.
rcmp-arrest-17-including-queen-of-canada-at-conspiracy-compound-in-saskatchewan
CanadaSep 04, 2025

RCMP arrest 17, including 'Queen of Canada,' at conspiracy compound in Saskatchewan

RCMP say 17 people, including self-proclaimed ``Queen of Canada'' Romana Didulo, have been arrested in southwestern Saskatchewan. Followers of Didulo, who has promoted various conspiracy theories, set up a ``Kingdom of Canada'' compound in an old school in Richmound, west of Regina, in 2023. Insp. Ashley St. Germaine says a warrant was executed Wednesday morning at the property and four replica handguns were found. She says police continue to collect evidence and conduct interviews, but that so far, no charges have been laid. Mounties charged the owner of the property earlier thi
carney-says-his-ministers-are-looking-for-ways-to-cut-spending-at-cabinet-retreat
CanadaSep 04, 2025

Carney says his ministers are looking for ways to cut spending at cabinet retreat

Prime Minister Mark Carney and his cabinet will meet behind closed doors for a second day in a row today, as the Liberal government prepares for Parliament's return in a little under two weeks. Cabinet is discussing efforts to spur industrial investment, refocus Ottawa's spending priorities for the coming fall budget and counter U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. The federal government is expected in October to table Carney's first budget since taking office. Carney billed the budget on Wednesday as both an austerity plan and one that will ramp up investments to bolster the economy. Conser
BCSep 03, 2025

Phone services, including the 911 landline, down in northern Vancouver Island

Residents in parts of northern Vancouver Island are without landline and cellphone service due to what telecom provider Telus says was damage to infrastructure caused by vandalism. The company's service status map shows both Port McNeill and Port Hardy without home phone, mobile, internet and 911 landline service due to what it says is "damage inflicted upon Telus infrastructure." Other communities on Vancouver Island, including Alert Bay, Campbell River and Port Alice, have also been affected. Emergency Info B.C. says on social media that residents should still try to call 911 if they have an
train-cars-leave-the-tracks-in-b-c-s-kootenay-region-near-albertas-boundary
BCSep 03, 2025

Train cars leave the tracks in B.C.'s Kootenay region near Alberta's boundary

Federal investigators are looking into a train derailment in British Columbia's Kootenay region near the Alberta boundary. The Transportation Safety Board says in a statement that a team is being deployed to the site near Elko, B.C., where investigators will gather information and begin to assess what caused the derailment. A spokesman with rail operator Canadian Pacific Kansas City has confirmed the derailment at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, where multiple cars left the tracks. CPKC says the 12 cars involved were empty and no one was injured as a result of the derailment. It says its crews responded

Related News