Meat packers upset by lowered cap on foreign workers

The Canadian Meat Council is criticizing a surprise move by the federal government to reduce the cap on temporary foreign workers from 30 to 20 per cent of a company’s workforce, effective May 1 instead the Aug. 30 deadline.

The increase to 30 per cent was enacted in April, 2022, during the COVid-19 pandemic crisis.

Moving the expiry up by four months was done without any consultation with meat packers, the council said.

 “Make no mistake, the decision to remove these supportive measures is punitive for the agricultural sector, including our meat processors,” said meat council president and chief executive officer Chris White.

“By ending these measures, we are removing the crucial support that our industry needs to remain competitive, and we are undermining our sector’s ability to meet product supply requirements,” he said.

Before April, 2022, the cap was 10 per cent of the workforce.