Category: government

Effective January 1, 2026, the Government of Canada will reinstate the requirement for employers to provide proof of advertising when submitting a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application to hire temporary foreign workers for primary agriculture positions under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW Program).

To ensure a transition, the temporary suspension of the minimum advertising requirements for positions in primary agriculture will be extended beyond June 30, 2025, until December 31, 2025. This means that employers are not required to provide proof of advertisement with their LMIA application submitted up to December 31, 2025.

Employers are expected to continue efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents, including members of underrepresented groups in the labour market, such as:

• vulnerable youth,
• Indigenous peoples,
• newcomers to Canada,
• persons with disabilities, and
• asylum seekers with valid work permits.

For inspection purposes, employers must continue to retain records that document evidence of their recruitment efforts.

You are encouraged to share this communication throughout your respective networks, and with any colleagues or peers who may need to be aware of this information. If you have questions on the TFW Program, please visit Canada.ca or reach out to the Employer Contact Centre. 

Due to outbreaks of measles in Canada and in other countries, here are some reminders for employers and temporary foreign workers (workers) participating in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW Program).

Stay informed and follow the recommendations of  the appropriate public health authorities

Measles is an extremely contagious disease caused by a virus. The Public Health Agency of Canada is working closely with provincial, territorial and international partners to share information and monitor the situation in Canada and globally.

Employers and workers can learn about measles and the preventive measures that can be adopted by consulting:

• Measles: Prevention and risks - Canada.ca

Employers and workers can refer to weekly surveillance reports to keep track of the current status in Canada, at a national level, and in their region of work.

As the situation evolves, public health recommendations may change. Employers and workers are recommended to regularly check the website of the public health authority in their province or territory to obtain updates and information on the preventive measures in place, particularly the availability of measles vaccination in their region:

• Provincial and Territorial Immunization Information - Canada.ca

Reminders regarding the responsibilities of employers and workers participating in the TFW Program

• On or before the beginning of the employment period, the employer must provide workers with the most recent version of the document: Temporary foreign workers: Your rights are protected - Canada.ca. The employer must also ensure that this information remains accessible to the workers throughout the duration of their employment.
• Workers are entitled to free healthcare under the health insurance system of the province or territory where they work. In case of delays upon their arrival or for any other period during which the workers are not covered, the employer must obtain and pay, without deductions from the worker’s salary, for a private health insurance covering emergency medical care until the workers are covered by the provincial or territorial plan. For workers under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) stream, the employer should ensure to follow requirements provided in the SAWP contracts.
• As the most effective way to protect oneself against measles is through vaccination, workers are encouraged to review their immunization history, including for measles, before coming to work in Canada. The employer should also make reasonable efforts to support workers who wish to voluntarily get vaccinated in Canada.
• In the event of an outbreak of communicable diseases, such as measles, the employer must work with the appropriate provincial or territorial public health authority to establish clear protocols to mitigate disease spread and maintain transparent communication with employees and the public health authority. Both the employer and the workers must follow the guidelines issued by public health. This includes recommendations regarding isolation for a specified period, including when housing is provided by the employer.
• If a worker is sick or shows symptoms of measles, they must inform their employer as soon as possible, isolate at home and call a health care provider immediately for advice. If the worker needs to leave isolation to seek medical care, it is essential to inform the facility before arriving, that the worker may have measles to allow for appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of virus to others. The employer must make reasonable efforts to ensure that workers have access to healthcare services and professionals, such as a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

In order to maintain a safe working environment, it is essential for employers and temporary foreign workers to be aware of available preventive measures to reduce the transmission of measles, especially given the resurgence of cases.

You are encouraged to share this communication throughout your respective networks, and with any colleagues or partners who may need to be aware of this information.

If you have questions about measles, please consult:

• *Measles: What you should know (factsheet) - Canada.ca;
• Measles: Prevention and risks - Canada.ca;
• Measles: Symptoms and treatment - Canada.ca, and
• public health services in your area.

*Please note that a Spanish version of the information sheet is linked here: Measles Factsheet_SPA

If you have questions on the TFW Program, please visit Canada.ca or reach out to the Employer Contact Centre.

Thank you for your continued collaboration.

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Employment and Social Development Canada

April 9, 2025

Liquidity measures announced by Government of Canada to support businesses.

Trade Impact Program: Export Development Canada will deploy $5 billion over two years to help exporters navigate tariffs, cash flow issues, and market expansion.

Business Loans: $500 million in low-interest loans via the Business Development Bank of Canada for affected sectors and supply chains, plus financial advisory services.

Agriculture Support: $1 billion in new financing through Farm Credit Canada to ease cash flow challenges for the agriculture and food industry.

Advance Payments Program: The interest-free limit is set at $250,000 for 2025.

April 2, 2025

March 31, 2025

On Wednesday April 2, members across Canada are invited to join Landscape Ontario (LO) for a discussion about the current situation and its impacts on the green trades, as well as potential mitigation strategies.

Hosted by LO executive director Joe Salemi, CAE the session will include perspectives from Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) executive director Victor Santacruz, CLP, CAE and Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) executive vice-president of advocacy Corinne Pohlmann.

Attendance is free, and will be hosted virtually and in person at LO’s home office in Milton, Ont.

If you have specific questions you would like addressed, please include them in the registration form.

Sign up: https://landscapeontario.jotform.com/250755844105861 

March 19, 2025

March 6, 2025

ON HOLD - 25% Tariff on hold until April 2

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he is again pausing his tariffs on some Canadian goods, offering the country yet another roughly month-long reprieve from a punishing 25 per cent levy.

Read more >> Trump pausing tariffs on some Canadian goods until April 2

March 5, 2025

US President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday, March 3, 2025, that 25% tariffs will be implemented on Canadian and Mexican imports on Tuesday despite the initiatives to control fentanyl trafficking into the US and illegal migration.

All imports of Canadian goods are to be hit with a 25% tariff except for energy which has a 10% tariff.

Canada has worked constructively and collaboratively and invested billions of dollars over this past month to address the concerns raised by the US administration. Canada has addressed the US concerns regarding fentanyl, as proved by the US Border Service data. This removes any potential justification of US tariffs. In return, Canada has implemented $30 billion in tariffs immediately, with another $155 billion to be implemented in 21 days' time. The Prime Minister stated that EI will be expanded and made more flexible, and businesses will be supported.

To see the news release, click here.

To see the initial list of US products under tariff click here.  The list mostly contains general consumer goods like food, clothing, etc. but does have provisions for hand-tools and footwear that could lead to increased prices almost immediately as the season starts.

Canada Border Services Agency has issued a customs notice on surtaxes on certain goods originating from the US. The order is here.

What this means in the short-term:

• Many landscaping tools, machinery, and supplies are imported from the US - retaliatory tariffs will make these more expensive.
• Tariffs could increase prices, squeezing profit margins and potentially raising service costs.

• Approximately 6% of total landscape horticultural crop value is exported to the USA (number is over 40% for greenhouse production). It is much lower in Alberta and Saskatchewan but given that 99.6% of all exports are to the US due to phytosanitary regulations around movement of soil it will impact some areas and growers very directly.  It also limits are ability to import plant material from non-US sources.
• General economic un-ease, with a looming recession predicted, consumer confidence will be weak. We’ve seen in the past that economic conditions that lead to travel or food uncertainty (9/11, Covid pandemic) has resulted in greater consumer spending on home and garden supplies.  A prolonged recession combined with high prices on other consumer goods could easily counteract this effect.
• Additional tariffs are scheduled to implement March 12 and April 2 as well as counter-tariffs from Canada set take place in late March. The proposed list of second round counter-tariffs includes a large variety of plant material that blankets much of the horticultural industry.  The US has vowed to match an retaliatory tariffs at equal rates, meaning that stage 2 will include tariffs on US imports to Canada of plant material.  We will continue to monitor listings as the issue progresses.

What Landscape Alberta is doing:

We are actively working to provide supports to members through this difficult trade dispute.

• Offering regular updates that are industry specific as new categories of goods are added to the tariff and counter-tariff lists.
• Working together with larger industry groups across agriculture and small business to tell our story and advocate for a prompt resolution, including groups like AAFC, CNLA, COHA, AGGA, CFIB and the Provincial and Federal Governments.
• Advocating to the federal government to invest tariff revenue into support programs for small businesses and consumers.
• Advocating for the federal government to exclude products essential to our industry from counter-tariff action (plants, irrigation supplies, construction equipment).

What can you do:

• Communicate! With customers, supplier, and your peers.
• Look at new supply chains, source local. Strengthen your B2B network – start with Landscape Alberta members and then related associations in the federation across Canada.
• Activate line of credit early to help manage cashflow and operations.
• Reduce large capital spending. Wait it out if you can, rent or look at alternate tariff free options.

Resources:

• Business Development Bank of Canada – Cash flow planning, financial support, supply-chain diversification, etc.
• Export Development Canada – Tariff mitigation strategies, market diversification, etc.
• Alberta Treasury Branch Tariff Hub – resources to help with business and personal impacts.
• Royal Bank of Canada Tariff Insights