IRCC developing new foreign worker stream for agriculture and fish processing
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is working towards the creation of a new foreign labour stream.
The stream will focus on filling labour shortages in Canada's agriculture and fish processing sector.
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What do we know about the upcoming stream?
The department revealed plans for the creation of the new foreign labour stream in its 2025-2026 Department Plan, announced earlier this month.
As per the plan, IRCC is working on the development of a stream specifically for foreign workers in agriculture and fish processing.
The new program will include a corresponding sector-specific work permit.
The stream may also expand partner country agreements, which could streamline the hiring of foreign workers from specific partner countries in this sector.
The department has stated that it plans to work on policy development and public consultations to support the creation of this new stream alongside Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in 2025-2026.
According to the department, this stream is part of broader efforts to better manage temporary resident levels and support Canada’s economic objectives.
The 2025-2026 Department Plan also mentions goals to prioritize temporary foreign worker applications in essential sectors, with agriculture and food processing listed as essential sectors.
Labour shortages in Canada’s agriculture sector
Agriculture remains a key sector in Canada, with labour demand and ongoing worker shortages.
Agriculture and agri-food occupations remains one of the categories in Canada’s category-based selection draws under Express Entry.
The creation of this new agriculture and fish processing stream may also be an effort to fill labour gaps left by the closure of the Agri-Food Pilot pathway which closed earlier this year.
The Agri-Food Pilot was a pathway to permanent residence for foreign workers in specific occupations including meat product manufacturing, floriculture production, and animal production.
It was first launched in 2020, to help employers in this in-demand sector meet labour shortages. In February 2025, IRCC announced it had reached its application cap for the year as of February 13 and would no longer accept new submissions.
Pilot pathways usually run for a maximum of five years, after which they expire, although successful pilots can lead to permanent programs in the future.
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