Extension and Structural Expansion of the Agri-Food Pilot
Validated finding · five-country-2010-20260922-v118-evidence-presentation-fix
Policy effect
The Agri-Food Pilot was extended until May 14, 2025. Key policy changes included the complete removal of occupational caps for candidates and a roadmap to expand OWP access to family members and simplify work experience documentation.
Conditions and exceptions
Validated condition or limit: The Agri-Food Pilot was extended until May 14, 2025.
Official source excerpt
Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.
2023—L’Orignal, Ontario—** The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of supporting the agri-food sector’s labour market needs and strengthening Canada’s food supply system. One key to success for Canadian farmers and food processors is their ability to recruit and retain a skilled workforce. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced the extension of the Agri-Food Pilot, which will now run until May 14, 2025. Launched in May 2020, the pilot helps facilitate the transition of experienced workers in agricultural and food industries to … permanent residence in Canada. To support employers and candidates, the Minister also announced the removal of the annual occupational caps, or the limits for how many candidates can apply for a specific occupation under the pilot. Removing these limits will provide an opportunity for more eligible candidates to apply. By the end of the year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) intends to introduce new changes to the pilot in stages, including - expanding open work permit access to family members of all participants in the Agri-Food Pilot—regardless of the participant’s job skill level - allowing unions to attest to a candidate’s work experience, as an alternative to employer reference letters - giving applicants residing in Canada the option to either meet the job offer requirement, including the median wage requirement for the job offer, or the education requirement, including educational credential assessment verification - accepting work experience gained under an open work permit for vulnerable workers, giving more workers an opportunity to qualify Together, these changes are a significant step in meeting the longstanding labour market needs of employers in the …
Government of Canadacanada.ca. Extension and Structural Expansion of the Agri-Food Pilot. Effective 2023-05-08.; Agri-Food Pilot extended to 2025 to support continued business growth and labour needsOpen official source
Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2023/05/canada-announces-extension-to-the-agri-food-pilot-facilitating-access-to-permanent-residence-for-workers-and-their-families.htmlReview method
Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews
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Other Canada changes operative in 2023
- 2023-01-04Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) Rules 2022
- 2023-01-092023 International Experience Canada (IEC) Program Launch and Cap Increase
- 2023-02-08Hong Kong open work permits: graduation window expanded from five to ten years
- 2023-02-23Resumption of Biometrics Collection for Temporary Residence Applicants
- 2023-02-28Temporary public policy for processing TRV applications in inventory
- 2023-03-22Extension of CUAET Special Measures
- 2023-03-25Expansion of the Canada–U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) across the Entire Land Border
- 2023-03-29Special Immigration Measures for Turkish and Syrian Nationals
- 2023-04-06Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) 18-Month Extension
- 2023-04-30Reduced work experience requirement for caregiver pilots
- 2023-04-30Special Facilitative Measures for Family Members Fleeing Conflict in Sudan
- 2023-06-06Extension of Electronic Travel Authorization to 13 Additional Countries
- 2023-06-14Removal of the Biometrics Exemption for In-Canada Permanent Residence Applicants
- 2023-06-15Expansion of the Francophone Mobility Program
- 2023-06-27Study Permit Exemption for Temporary Foreign Workers
- 2023-07-16Temporary Public Policy for U.S. H-1B Visa Holders (Open Work Permit Stream)
- 2023-07-25Expansion of Refugee Stream for Human Rights Defenders
- 2023-07-28Temporary public policy for foreign nationals directly affected by the floods in Nova Scotia
- 2023-09-01Federal post-graduation work permit access restricted for new students at affected Quebec institutions
- 2023-09-12Extension of Afghan Resettlement for Extended Families of LCAs
- 2023-09-27H-1B Open Work Permit Measures Expansion
- 2023-10-01Extension of Afghan Special Immigration Measures (SIMs)
- 2023-10-19Launch of the CAN Work Philippines Pilot Program
- 2023-10-26Temporary Foreign Worker Program LMIA Validity and Wage Review Updates
- 2023-11-17Launch of Humanitarian Pathway for Colombian, Haitian, and Venezuelan Nationals
- 2023-11-24IRPR Miscellaneous Program Amendments (Electronic Deemed Receipt & Sponsorship Redundancies)
- 2023-11-25Acceptance of European Union Laissez-Passer as Valid Travel Document
- 2023-12-01Family Reunification Public Policy for Resettled Yazidis and Survivors of Daesh
- 2023-12-01Implementation of Letter of Acceptance (LOA) Verification System
- 2023-12-01Inflationary Fee Adjustments for Inadmissibility and Restoration of Status
- 2023-12-19Increase of the Immigration Loans Program Statutory Advance Limit
- 2023-12-21Temporary Special Measures for Foreign Family Members of Canadian Citizens and PRs Departing Israel or Palestinian Territories