Canada Announces Cap for Agri-Food Pilot Program Amid Overwhelming Demand

On January 3, 2025, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that it will cap the number of permanent residence applications for the Agri-Food Pilot program at 1,010 in 2025. This move is in response to the overwhelming demand for the program, which has been in place since 2020. The pilot program will expire on May 14, 2025, or when 1,010 applications have been received, whichever comes first.

The Agri-Food Pilot was launched in 2020 to address labour gaps in the agri-food sector, which is crucial for producing food for communities in Canada and worldwide. The pilot program is designed to provide a pathway for experienced agri-food workers to become permanent residents of Canada. Since its inception, the pilot has welcomed over 4,500 agri-food workers and their family members, including close to 1,775 workers and family members, in the past year alone (as of November 2024).

The Agri-Food Pilot is an economic pilot established under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. It is one of several programs to address labour shortages in key sectors of the Canadian economy. The pilot has been a success, filling labour gaps in the agri-food sector and contributing to the growth of Canada's economy.

Background and Future Plans

The agri-food industry is a significant sector in Canada's economy, accounting for over $130 billion in annual GDP. The sector employs hundreds of thousands of workers nationwide, from farmers and farm workers to food processing and manufacturing employees. The Agri-Food Pilot was created to help address labour shortages in this sector, particularly in areas such as Ontario, Quebec, and the Prairies.

While the Agri-Food Pilot is set to expire on May 14, 2025, other programs are available to agri-food workers, such as federal high-skilled programs managed by Express Entry and regional economic immigration programs like the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and the Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilots. IRCC will continue processing applications received on or before the pilot's end date and under the cap, in line with the targets established in the Immigration Levels Plan.

In the coming years, IRCC will continue to monitor labour market needs and adjust immigration programs accordingly. The agency will also continue to work with provinces and territories to address labour shortages and support the growth of key sectors of the Canadian economy.