Federal government invests in agri-food sector to address labour shortages
by CM Staff
Food Processing Skills Canada is receiving $7.7 million for their Achieving our Workforce Destination: Qualified People, Successful Careers & Competitive Business Project.
OTTAWA — On Feb. 15, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau announced that the Government of Canada is investing over $19.7 million for two agriculture and agri-food projects under the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP). The announcement comes as Canada’s Agriculture Day is celebrated across the country.
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council is receiving an investment of just over $12 million for their Growing the Agriculture Workforce of the Future: Cultivating Canada’s Post-Pandemic Recovery Project. This project will help to address human resource shortages in Canada’s agriculture sector. By identifying skills most in need, providing innovative and targeted training programs to 1,175 employers and employees and by setting sector-wide standards for recruiting and retention, this project strives to meet the current and future demands of the agriculture industry.
In addition, Food Processing Skills Canada is receiving $7.7 million for their Achieving our Workforce Destination: Qualified People, Successful Careers & Competitive Business Project. This project will offer training programs to 1,250 Canadians in the food and beverage processing sector. It will also develop resources, tools and certifications for supervisors and employees to help improve retention in the industry. The project will aim to engage up to 65% of participants from equity-deserving groups.
First announced in Budget 2021, the SWSP will try and heelp key sectors of the economy to implement solutions that address current and emerging workforce needs by funding organizations to deliver sectoral projects that focus on a range of industry-driven activities, including training and reskilling workers, and helping employers retain and attract a skilled and diverse workforce. It also supports equity-deserving groups by promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce and providing wrap-around supports as needed to those facing barriers to participation.
“The future of the agriculture and agri-food sectors is contingent on having a skilled and reliable workforce. Over these past few years in particular, Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector has faced significant challenges in acquiring workers and maintaining stability. These two very important projects will strengthen this crucial sector for generations to come,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
