TFWP: Extension of the suspension of the Minimum Advertising Requirements for Primary Agriculture Employers

Please note that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is extending the suspension of minimum advertising requirements for all positions in the primary agriculture sector by a year, until June 30, 2023.
 
Since January 12, 2022, the minimum advertising requirements for employers applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire temporary foreign workers in primary agriculture were suspended. This suspension will continue to be in place until June 30, 2023.
 
With this in mind, please note while employers are not required to meet TFWP minimum advertising requirements or submit proof with their LMIA application, they are still expected to continue efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents for the positions to be filled.
 
The TFWP will continue to keep you apprised of any new information. Please consult the Temporary Foreign Workers Program web pages for details on this exemption and to learn on how to apply for an LMIA for positions in the primary agriculture sector.
 
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.

Coordinated Monitoring Initiative for Waterhemp

The Weeds Surveillance Community of Practice, stood up by the Canadian Plant Health Council (CPHC), has developed a harmonized protocol for monitoring of Amaranthus spp. weeds, with a focus on waterhemp, to enable coordination and information-sharing across provinces. This surveillance initiative is one of the first opportunities to put the design, outreach and action of the CPHC to the test, after 3 years of working together to build relationships, define priorities and develop approaches in areas of mutual interest.
 
In bringing together industry, academia, federal-provincial-territorial governments, and other partners to take collaborative action under the Plant and Animal Health Strategy for Canada, the CPHC aims to strengthen plant health in Canada. And the CPHC needs your networking help.   
 
Amaranthus spp., more commonly known as pigweeds, are a group of challenging agricultural weeds that are difficult to distinguish. Among those present in Canada, waterhemp is relatively new and continues to spread in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba, causing major challenges to agricultural production given that most populations are resistant to at least 2 and up to 5 different herbicide groups.
 
Waterhemp monitoring has been done in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec for several years now, and will continue this year using the harmonized protocol from now through October to understand the distribution of herbicide-resistant populations in Canada. Other provinces are also on the lookout for this weed so that range expansion can be detected early. This work will help inform management programs for this problem weed so that growers can limit its impact and further spread in Canada.
 
We would like to encourage industry associations to help share information about this work within their memberships e.g., in newsletters or other communication channels you may have. Growers can help support this monitoring effort by contacting their local weed specialist, copied here, if they find waterhemp on their farm, copied here.
 
More information about this monitoring initiative is available online at:
English: Waterhemp: biology and control (Field Crop News: see section 3, Testing services to identify waterhemp and determine if herbicide resistant)
French: Protocole harmonisé de surveillance de l’amarante tuberculée (AgriRéseau)
 
In addition, in Quebec, producers can subscribe to the management plan for waterhemp. To learn more, click here: https://www.agrireseau.net/blogue/102748.