BAC Members:
FBC-ABC submits to the Department of Finance’s 2022 Budget Consultations
FBC-ABC has again provided a submission to the Department of Finance’s consultations in advance of Federal Budget 2022. This year’s submission provides recommendations related to our Emergency Foreign Worker Program, our long-term labour strategy, automation and technology, and supply chain resilience. FBC-ABC will be reaching out to decision-makers in the coming weeks to bring attention to our recommendations.
Ontario Hosts Summit on Food Security
On March 1, Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs met with over 125 leaders in the food supply chain to discuss food security and to collaborate on strategies that will help Ontario’s food supply chain remain stable. Speakers at the summit included FBC-ABC’s Co-Chair, Michael Burrows of Maple Lodge Farms, and Rosemary MacLellan, of Gay Lea Foods. The Emergency Foreign Worker Program proposal was discussed on several occasions.
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference vote in favour of strike
More than 3,000 Teamsters union members who work as engineers, conductors, trainpersons, and yardpersons for Canadian Pacific Railway have voted in favour of a strike mandate. The union said it will continue in the ongoing mediation process with the federally appointed mediator/conciliator, with meetings planned for March 11 through 16. FBC-ABC will continue to monitor this.
MP Randeep Sarai’s motion on Temporary Foreign Workers has its first hour of debate
On February 28, Liberal MP Randeep Sarai’s Motion 44, which would require the government to develop and publicly release a comprehensive plan to expand pathways to permanent residency for temporary foreign workers, was debated for the first time in the House. The House is set to resume consideration of the Motion on or after March 29. FBC-ABC will continue to monitor.
House Human Resources Committee to study labour shortages
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities has agreed to undertake a study of Labour Shortages, Working Conditions, and the Care Economy. The Department of Employment and Social Development appeared for the first meeting of the study on March 3, at which FBC-ABC provided Members of Parliament with questions related to the food and beverage manufacturing sectors labour crisis. FBC-ABC will be seeking an appearance at the Committee and will be providing a written submission.