The much-awaited Agri-Food Immigration Pilot launched by Canada

Effective May 15, 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC] “will begin accepting applications to the Agri-Food Pilot”. The highly anticipated Agri-Food Immigration Pilot of Canada is a new immigration program that will be providing a pathway for Canada permanent residence for workers in specific agri-food industries.

The agri-food and agriculture industry is a significant contributor to the growth and sustenance of the Canadian economy. 1 out of 8 jobs in Canada is supported by the agriculture and agri-food industry.

The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot will be accepting applications from May 15, 2020 to May 14, 2023.

As Quebec has its own economic immigration selection as per the Canada-Quebec Accord, the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot is not applicable in the province of Quebec.

Though initially expected to be launched in March this year, the launch had inadvertently been delayed due to the ongoing global situation.

A 3-year pilot, the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot will be testing an industry-specific approach for helping Canadian employers in certain industries to fill their ongoing labour requirements for full-time as well as year-round employees.

Industries targeted by the Pilot are livestock-raising industries, mushroom and greenhouse production, and meat processing.

The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot will provide a pathway to Canada PR for many Temporary Foreign Workers [TFWs] that are already in Canada.

As per the News Release by IRCC, “Canada is committed to attracting the best talent from around the world through the Temporary Foreign Workers Program to fill skills shortages, drive local economies, and create and support middle-class jobs in communities across the country that will benefit all Canadians.”

With the Agri-Food Pilot, IRCC aims at complementing the existing suite of economic immigration programs for Canada, which include – a revitalized Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program [PNP], the caregivers’ pilots, the Global Skills Strategy, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot [RNIP].

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is a newly launched community-driven initiative of the Canadian government. 11 communities from 5 provinces – Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan – are participating in the RNIP.

Recently, Sudbury in Ontario held its first RNIP draw.

The success of Canadian farmers and food processors depends to a large extent on their ability to recruit as well as retain the workforce that they require. The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot, as per the News Release, will “help to ensure that employers in the agriculture and agri-food sector have much-needed skills and labour so we can strengthen Canada’s food security, grow our economy and improve living standards for all of Canada”.

The Minister of IRCC Marco Mendicino is of the opinion that “The Agri-Food Pilot will attract applicants for permanent residence who have worked in Canada, who can economically establish in Canada, and who support the labour needs of farmers and processors.”

If you are looking to Work, Study, Invest, Visit, or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No. 1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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