Quebec apple season marred by lack of foreign workers

Quebec apple farmers say they are afraid visa delays for temporary foreign workers could set their harvesting seasons back, and even spoil some crops.

St-Paul-d'Abbotsfordorchard ownerRjean Guertinsaid he's down workers, particularly those from Guatemala, because of the delays.

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"First they said to me eightweeks, then they said a month later, no, it's 14 weeks," Guertin said.

He's worried his apples will have rotted on the branches by the time the visas arrive.

My son said to me that if we don't have Mexicanor Guatemalanworkers, we sell the farms.- Rjean Guertin, farmer

The changes to Canada'sTemporary Foreign Worker Program has hit some farmers in Quebechard.

Employers can have no more than 20 per cent of their workforce as low-wage temporary foreign workers. The number must drop to 10 per cent starting in July 2016.

Employers who are found in non-compliancefaces fine ranging from $500 to $100,000 for each violation. The fines arecapped at $1 million per year, per employer.

Guertin said it's a clear sign to him that the government doesn'treally care about what happens to farmers.

"My son said to me that if we don't have Mexicanor Guatemalanworkers, wesell the farms. And I'm sure I'm not the only one [having this discussion]," he said.

Apples may go to waste

Some farmers have said apple pickers from Quebec are less efficient than those from Latin America.

Down the road from Guertin, Dean Thomson said he's been working with the same team from Guatemala for seven years.

"In July, we found out they're talking 1416 weeks, so all our requestsdone in June,July we won't have a permit until November," Thomson said.

On top of that, he said, a number of his trees were damaged bytwo hail storms this summer.

Apples that are damaged or that fall down onto the ground are often used to make juice and other products.

But now, Thomson said, theworkers definitely won't arrive in time to pick the damaged apples.

"I mean, now we're just trying to get out of this year alive," he said.

Feds working to resolve issue

In a statement, Citizenship and Immigration Canada said it'saware of the situation and is "workingto resolve the issue in consultation with the Quebec federation of apple producers."

"CIC will start expedited processing of work permits for the affected workers, while ensuring the integrity of the program," the statement said.

A separate statement from federal Conservative Party spokespersonKevin Menard said the worker shortage was due to "abureaucratic error."

Quebec apple farmers worried over visa delays for temporary foreign workers

9 years ago

Duration 2:05

Apple farmers in Quebec say that with the federal changes to the temporary foreign workers visa process, workers wont get their visas before November.