Many temporary foreign workers are still in their home countries waiting for the green light (and an available flight) to come to Canada. Once here, the Government of Canada has laid out added measures and precautions for a mandatory 14-day isolation period. There are also new guidelines and rules in relation to seasonal workers, as... Read More
Category: Human Resources
Ontario has launched a web portal connecting workers with employers looking to fill positions in the agri-food sector. The initiative is aimed at matching people to essential jobs and training resources throughout the provincial food supply chain in an effort to ensure grocery store shelves remain full during the COVID-19 outbreak. “Right now, there are... Read More
Each province is feeling the incredible economic hit from COVID-19, but Alberta — with its oil and gas-based economy — may be harder hit than some, as the price of oil has plummeted. There are many Albertans out of work, and many Alberta farm and agriculture businesses looking to fill a gap that seasonal workers... Read More
Social distancing has forced many Canadian businesses to shift their workforce to a work-from-home setting, and agricultural industry is no exception. In agriculture, however, social interaction is part of the fabric — from product delivery, to agronomic advising, or troubleshooting ration adjustment. All of these activities require the support of suppliers who traditionally have spent... Read More
If you've scrolled through all the COVID-19 posts on social media, you've probably seen an interesting trend of farmers encouraging people who have lost work outside of the industry to consider working on a farm. Greg Stamp of Stamp Seeds at Enchant, Alta., is one of those farmers that reached out to the world of... Read More
Update, as of 11pm EDT Friday, March 20: The Canadian government confirmed late Friday that it will be exempting seasonal agricultural workers from the travel restrictions put in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. "The participation of temporary foreign workers on our farms and our food businesses is absolutely necessary," says Minister of... Read More
Farming by its very nature is rather isolating. That's good news in the midst of a national "social distancing" push in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. But being somewhat isolated doesn't mean that farmers, their families, or their employees aren't at risk. Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst, executive director at Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, says "There are... Read More
We've all been there — trying to explain something to someone who just doesn't seem to get it. But keynote speaker and communication thought leader Gregor Jeffrey says figuring out communication isn't something you have to do on your own. Science and research can give us the techniques we need to make it work. Jeffrey... Read More
When farmers talk about succession, the conversation typically revolves around how the farm could be transitioned to the next generation of the family. But when Ravena, Ont., beef and grain farmers James and Joan McKinlay talk succession, the conversation is rarely about their family. Much of the focus is on a generation of non-farmers who... Read More
What are your first thoughts when you wake up in the morning? Motivational speaker, author, and entrepreneur Darci Lang advocates for positivity. "Focus on the 90 per cent, is my message. [It's] my belief that we all hold this big magnifying glass out in front of us in our lives, and we have a choice... Read More