Canada and Ontario Taking Further Action to Grow and Sustain the Agri-Food Workforce

Governments addressing agri-food labour challenges to strengthen food security and supply chains

Toronto, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing $4 million to continue building a strong and competitive agri-food workforce. The second round of the Ontario
Agri-Careers Support Initiative, which opens today and closes on September 8, 2022, provides funding for innovative pilot projects that are tailor-made to address
employee needs at a local level.

Eligible food processing businesses with 50 or more employees can apply for up to $80,000 in funding, or up to $200,000 for collaborations between two or more
businesses, to cover up to 70 per cent of eligible project costs. Selected projects will aim to help the sector attract, support and retain the workers it needs to
continue producing the safe and high-quality food made in Ontario, strengthen the local supply chain and promote greater food security.

Examples of pilot projects that could be eligible for funding include:

• transportation initiatives for employees to commute to the job site
• childcare options for working parents
• language proficiency solutions for workers with English as a second language
• improving workspace environments.

The Ontario Agri-Careers Support Initiative builds on the first intake that was announced in February and follows an additional $1.5-million labour intake under the
Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) that was announced last October. These initiatives, combined with the $22 million Agri-Tech Innovation cost-share program
launched in April 2021, further enhance the province’s agri-food labour support to build a competitive and skilled ag