The Canadian federal government is turning its attention to one of the nation's most pressing labour market needs. According to the 2025-2026 Departmental Plan released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in June , the department has confirmed it is developing a new, dedicated pathway for foreign workers in the agriculture and fish processing sectors.

The official document states that IRCC plans to collaborate with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) on policy development and public consultations for the new stream during 2025-2026. This move is part of the Canadian government's broader strategy to better manage temporary resident levels while ensuring that immigration policies are precisely aligned with the nation's economic objectives.

Core Features of the New Stream

While specific details are still under development, the plan outlines several core features of the upcoming stream:

1. Sector-Specific Work Permit: The new stream will include a work permit tailored specifically for this sector. This means the application process and requirements will be more targeted, which is expected to improve processing efficiency.
2. Expanded International Partnerships: IRCC has indicated that the new stream may seek to expand agreements with specific partner countries. This would provide Canadian employers with a more streamlined and efficient process for hiring agricultural and fish processing workers from these nations.
3. Priority Processing: The 2025-2026 Departmental Plan also emphasizes that applications for temporary foreign workers in "essential sectors," with agriculture and food processing explicitly listed, will be prioritized. This highlights the government's commitment to securing the labour supply for these industries.

Addressing Persistent Labour Shortages

Agriculture has long been a cornerstone of Canada's economy, but the sector has consistently faced significant labour demand and persistent worker shortages. The severity of this challenge is also reflected in current immigration policy; "Agriculture and agri-food occupations" is already a targeted category in Express Entry's category-based selection draws.

The creation of this new stream is also widely interpreted as a move to fill the policy gap left by the recent closure of the Agri-Food Pilot. Launched in 2020, the pilot program provided a direct pathway to permanent residence for foreign workers in specific occupations—such as meat product manufacturing, greenhouse production, and animal production—to help employers in this high-demand sector meet their labour needs.

However, on February 13 of this year, IRCC announced that the pilot had reached its application cap for 2024 and was no longer accepting new submissions. Typically, pilot programs run for a maximum of five years before they either expire or are replaced by permanent programs. The establishment of this new stream is likely a more scalable and durable solution, built upon the successful elements of the Agri-Food Pilot, designed to provide sustained support for the prosperity of Canada's agriculture and fish processing sectors.