Canadian Ag HR Council to Lead New AgriWorkforce Program
Abbotsford, BC – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has chosen the Canadian Agricultural HR Council (CAHRC) to lead a new Quality AgriWorkforce Management Program: International Phase (QAMP) with a $279,239 investment in the nine-month project. The QAMP will support employers who hire international workers to supplement their Canadian workforce. The intent of the program will be to provide employers with the information, training and tools needed to efficiently and successfully hire and manage international workers. Research has shown that each international worker that is hired, following a stringent process to ensure qualified Canadian workers do not wish to apply, results in 2-4 full-time Canadian agriculture related jobs up and down the Agri-Food supply chain.
Contributing $304 million per day to Canada’s economy ($111 billion annually) and employing approximately 2.3 million Canadians the Agri-Food sector accounts for close to 7% of Canada’s GDP. With Canadian Agri-Food enjoying global recognition and unprecedented demand due to the high quality of the products coupled with equally high safety standards this critical business sector is poised to increase significantly its economic contribution to Canada by almost double by 2025.
Canada’s Economic Strategy Table: Agri-Food report released fall 2018, highlighted several areas that will require action for Canada’s Agri-Food sector to realize increased economic opportunity. For example, a regulatory system that supports innovation, a smart interconnected transportation system as well as broadband and IT improvements in rural communities. However, the most widely discussed and compelling area of focus continues to be increasing the labour force that will be needed in all skill levels and experience necessary for the Canadian Agri-Food sector to take full advantage of the domestic and global market that eagerly awaits “more” of Canada’s highly valued Agri-Food products.
CAHRC will implement the project through a variety of workshops and webinars across Canada while developing employer guides and handbooks. Looking ahead, CAHRC envisions a skills hub that would house a variety of HR management focused best practices that would be available to employers across the Agri-Food spectrum. Agri-Food businesses with a view to growing the AgriWorkforce require workers from all skill levels to meet the range of skills and experience necessary to capitalize on the growing demand for Canada’s highly sought after Agri-Food products.
QUOTES
“Our Government has identified the agriculture sector as a primary driver for the Canadian economy, particularly in our rural communities. Increasing the labour workforce on Canadian farms and primary processing is critical to the success of our agri-food businesses and will help meet our Government's ambitious target of growing our food exports to $75 billion by 2025."
-Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, Minister Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
“Canada’s agricultural sector faces significant labour shortages, with over half of the work being seasonal and in rural areas with lower populations. Reliable access to labour is critical for this sector to ensure both continued food production and job creation across British Columbia and all of Canada.”
-Jati Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Mission – Matsqui – Fraser Canyon
“Farm employers participating in the International Phase of the Quality AgriWorkforce Management Program are putting time and effort into learning the evolving process, the rules, and best practices to support their farm workers. International workers are an important part of the diverse Canadian AgriWorkforce team. CAHRC is proud to provide this new program supporting the hiring and management of international workers, improving the understanding that agriculture is a trustworthy industry that safeguards its workers.”
- Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst, Executive Director Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council
Funded in part by AAFC’s Canadian Agriculture Adaptation Program (CAAP), the Council is collaborating with producers, farm workers, federal and provincial government departments, leading agriculture organizations and agricultural colleges and training providers to deliver the International Phase of the Quality AgriWorkforce Management Program.
For more information contact:
Janet Krayden, Manager, Quality AgriWorkforce Management Program: International Phase, CAHRC
C : 613-784-9426 T: 613-745-7457 ext. 226 jkrayden@cahrc-ccrha.ca
Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst, Executive Director, CAHRC
T: 613-745-7457 ext. 222 macdonald-dewhirst@cahrc-ccrha.ca
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PEI Seasonal Worker Skills Initiative Program |
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Target Clients: Seasonal workers who have exhausted or about to exhaust EI benefits prior to their scheduled return to work date. |
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Objective : To offer a work experience with Essential Skills training to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI benefits prior to their scheduled return to work date. Hours worked while on the work experience under the PEI Seasonal Worker Skills Initiative program will be insurable hours. Note: Employment Insurance benefits are the responsibility of the Government of Canada |
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Participant Criteria: Ø PEI Seasonal worker whose EI has exhausted or is about to exhaust prior to their scheduled return to work date. Ø Be ready, available and able to participate in training and/or a work experience. Ø Be ready to return to their job at the start of the work season. Ø Must meet with Workplace Learning PEI Inc. to be accepted into the program. |
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Essential Skills Training: Workplace Learning PEI Inc. will be facilitating essentials skills training at various locations. Learning will occur in a workshop environment. Training will be client driven and will consider the specific needs and workplace duties of the participants. Activities will focus on skills that are transferrable to the workplace such as; Ø effective communication Ø understanding workplace information and forms Ø working as a member of a team Ø responding to change in the workplace The training is considered professional development. Participants will be greeted each morning to a welcoming room with hot coffee and refreshments. |
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Work Experience (Wage Subsidy): Skills PEI will work with employers in an effort to arrange an early return date that will extend the seasonal workers employment period. Employers will be offered a wage subsidy for the extended weeks of employment. |
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Work Experience combined with Essential Skills Training Ø Participants return to insurable employment and must participate in essential skills training during the Work Experience. Ø Participants may receive 6 to 8 weeks of insurable employment prior to their scheduled return to work date. |
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Interested Clients call Workplace Learning PEI at 902-368-6280 |
For the Nomination form please click on "More Information" below:
The award is sponsored by Kool Breeze Farms. Deadline for Nominations is December 31, 2018.
For the Nomination form please click on "More Information" below:
The award is sponsored by T&K Fire & Safety Ltd. The deadline for nominations is December 31, 2018.
For the Nomination form please click on "More Information" below:
Islanders are invited to help implement the Poverty Reduction Action Plan by providing advice to government and support to community networks on initiatives that will help those who need it most.
The Poverty Reduction Council will monitor the delivery of 67 concrete action items over five years and a $68 million investment focused on improving housing, food, employment and well-being. Islanders can apply to join the council through Engage PEI until December 6.
“We need the voices and efforts of people from all walks of life coming together - community partners and other levels of governments to help empower all Islanders to be healthy and self-sufficient,” said Family and Human Services Minister Tina Mundy. “I look forward to the council’s advice to government and to the engagement of communities across the province.”
The action plan, Belonging and Thriving, has four main goals: to help Islanders in need; to support the most vulnerable; to build on our supportive communities and partners; and, improving the well-being of children and youth.
The Poverty Reduction Action Plan builds on recent government initiatives to reduce poverty such as the Housing Action Plan, AccessAbility Supports, Social Assistance Renewal, Seniors Health and Wellness Action Plan and Early Learning and Child Care Investments.
To learn more visit, Poverty Reduction Action Plan.
People have until Thursday, December 6 to apply for the Council through Engage PEI and we're looking for help in getting the word out. You can find out more about the Council at
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/executive-council-office/poverty-reduction-council.
Media contact:
Bobbi Jo Walker
Department of Family and Human Services
902-213-4507
bjwalker@gov.pe.ca
I am including a link to the Directory of Licensed Early Learning and Child Care Centres. This resource is updated annually and the current link has licensed programs up to March 2018. There will be a new Directory coming out in the spring. However, since the release of the Directory, a number of early learning and child care centres have been licenced. They are:
Rainbow Beginnings: 2972 Mt. Stewart Road, St. Teresa 902-583-2200
Chances Pre-Kindergarten: 65 Kirkwood Drive, Charlottetown 902-892-8744
Chances Smart Start O'Leary 2: 18 Community Street, O'Leary 902-892-8744
Wee the West Childcare: 44 Gard Road, Bloomfield 902-726-2126
Link to Directory: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/publications/eelc_directory_ecd_programs.pdf
Link to the Child Care Subsidy program: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/family-and-human-services/help-for-child-care-expenses
This is the farming community's opportunity to ensure that factual information about the agriculture industry is being communicated to the general public so that they too can embrace our agricultural heritage.
It is your opportunity to take pride in your farm, your products, your contribution to a vibrant culture and economy, and most importantly to take pride in your profession. This year let's make it our responsibility as agriculture producers to make sure that every Islander understands the work, knowledge, skills, investment (both personal and financial) and real time invested in building a strong farming business that provides consumers with the highest quality PEI grown agricultural products. You can also help to educate consumers on the importance of buying local products to support our local economy.
It is important for the Agriculture industry for all producers to consider this opportunity and step up to be active participants.
Please find the 2018 Open Farm Day Application link below:
The theory portion is approx 3 hours and the practical portion is approximately 3 hours. All participants will receive a wallet card upon successfully completing the course and employers will receive a record of training for their records. Those who are between the ages of 14-16 will require written parental/guardian approval.
If you are interested, please call Bryan at 902-892-1091 or email jobseast@peiagsc.ca
Draft Schedule:
Day 1- Airbrake theory
Day 2- Review of Airbrakes and Airbrake test (written on site), Preform a pre-use inspection
Day 3- Driving and Testing for Class 3A (time scheduled test on site)
Day 4- Driving and Testing for Class 3A (time scheduled test on site)
Requirements- must have valid truck driving experience, but not licensed & Medical completed and returned
Lunch will be provided
For more details on registration requirements, contact Laurie at 892-1091.
Registration is now open, limited seating available. To sign up, contact the PEI Agriculture Sector Council at 892-1091 or e-mail info@peiagsc.ca