COVID-19 Updates News Labour
LMIAs being accepted for early 2021 arrivals

For horticultural producers looking to hire temporary foreign workers next year, Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) are being accepted for January and February 2021 arrivals.

According to a release from Western Agriculture Labour Initiative (WALI), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is accepting LMIA applications six months ahead of the first arrival documented on the application. “If there are multiple arrival dates, they will work back from the earliest date and if it is within six months, while others are outside of that time frame, it will still be accepted.”

Foreign Agricultural Resource Management (FARMS) in Ontario says the first possible arrival date is January 5, 2021. Effective June 10, 2020, Service Canada no longer requires SAWP employers to advertise for certain occupations including General Farm Workers (8431), Nursery and Greenhouse Workers (8432) and Harvesting labourers (8611).

More details on recruitment requirements are available on the ESDC website