What we Heard Report – Agricultural Labour Strategy

Ottawa, ON – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture and its partners The Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council (CAHRC) and Food and Beverage Canada (FBC) are pleased to see Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) What We Heard Report, which details feedback received by the Department during consultations on the development of a National Agricultural Labour Strategy. Work on this strategy is a key item in the Mandate Letter of the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), and Food and Beverage Canada (FBC-ABC) have been championing development of an industry-led National Workforce Strategic Framework for Agriculture and Food & Beverage Manufacturing since 2021, with funding from the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Centre. To date there have been more than 100 industry participants involved in this work through advisory committees, working groups and broader engagement. The National Workforce Strategic Plan seeks to complement the efforts of the Government of Canada, including the development of a National Agricultural Labour Strategy.

As part of AAFC’s consultation process, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), and Food and Beverage Canada (FBC-ABC) provided an interim report on the development of an industry-led National Workforce Strategic Framework for Agriculture and Food & Beverage Manufacturing. This interim report included the signatures of 34 industry organizations as well. The input from this is well-reflected in the What We Heard Report, demonstrating the collaboration between the two initiatives.

We appreciate the commitment to collaborative and sustained engagement from AAFC and the Minister that will ensure both strategies remain aligned on wanting to take complementary and collaborative action on short, medium and long-term solutions to address labour shortages and systemic workforce challenges.