
More than 1,000 fewer N.S. agriculture workers in 2023 compared to 7 years prior: StatsCan
Nova Scotia's agriculture sector had more than 1,000 fewer workers in 2023 compared to seven years earlier, according to data recently released by Statistics Canada.
This comes as the president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture said the province could face a shortage of about 2,600 farm workers by 2029.
"A lot of our industry is impacted, but … horticulture and the fruit producers would be the two that are impacted the largest when there's a labour shortage," said Alicia King.
According to the data, Nova Scotia had 6,161 agriculture employees in 2023, including temporary foreign workers. That's down about 16 per cent from 7,322 employees in 2016.
Statistics Canada's agriculture and agri-food labour statistics program — the source of this data — focuses on farms that have at least one employee and excludes small farms with reported income under $25,000 and institutional ones like university farms.
King, who is also a farmer, said the industry needs to do a better job of communicating the opportunities and different types of jobs available in agriculture to prospective workers.
"I put food on my table, but I put food on my neighbour's table as well. And I think … there's something wholesome about that," she said.
At the same time, the data shows that Nova Scotia now appears to be relying more heavily on temporary foreign workers in agriculture.
In both 2023 and 2024, there were more than 1,900 temporary foreign workers employed in Nova Scotia's agriculture industry — a notable increase from the previous four years when that number did not surpass 1,500 workers.
This mirrors the trend seen at the national level.
"These numbers really highlight the important role that migrant workers play in Nova Scotia's food security," said Stacey Gomez, executive director of the Centre for Migrant Worker Rights Nova Scotia.
"The agriculture industry would not be able to operate without their support."
Gomez said those workers need to be protected from abuse, and called for targeted labour and safety inspections of workplaces that employ them, open work permits — where workers aren't tied to a single employer — and permanent residency status for temporary foreign workers.
A report released in January by human rights organization Amnesty International said Canada's temporary foreign worker program exposes workers to abuse and discrimination.
Meanwhile, a 2023 report from the Royal Bank of Canada said that providing experienced temporary foreign workers with permanent residency could help address labour shortages in the agriculture sector.
The data also indicates there were 212 fewer farms with paid employees in the province in 2023 compared to 2016.
First-generation farmer Paul Wartman said there are people like him who are interested in farming but don't have the experience.
"Even when people do have the experience on how to farm, the second major barrier often comes down to financials and how to financially be sustainable," said Wartman, who is also a Nova Scotia member of the National Farmers Union.
He added that existing farmers need supports to provide mentorship and train people on how to farm.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBC
38 minutes ago
- CBC
Mooseheads asking city for $1.6M to expand Dartmouth training facility
The Halifax Mooseheads are asking Halifax regional council for up to $1.625 million to expand the training facility they lease at the RBC Centre in Dartmouth. Mooseheads general manager Cam Russell and Elizabeth Powell of architecture firm Fathom Studio outlined plans for a proposed 4,700-square-foot addition at a standing committee meeting on Wednesday. They said the project at the municipally owned centre would benefit both the team and the public. Russell, who has been with the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League organization for 25 years, told the committee the current training facility is challenging to use. "Our gym isn't big enough, we have to work out in two or three different groups," he said. "We have a lounge that only seats three to four players. We don't have a wellness area that would be good for the kids, for their mental health and their well-being." Russell told the committee a state-of-the-art facility would enhance the Mooseheads' ability to attract top talent, putting the team on the same level as NCAA teams, universities and colleges. Russell said the proposed expansion would include a high-performance gym equipped with hockey-specific training gear, a 21-metre turf training track, and a dedicated shooting room for skill development, which he said would be a first in the QMJHL. The plans would also incorporate a sauna, steam room and cold plunge recovery area, a more spacious player lounge and a publicly accessible, barrier-free washroom. The timeline for the project is about six months for the design and eight months for construction, said Powell, the project architect. Russell said the Mooseheads are asking the municipality to fund the construction of the building shell, while the team would cover interior costs and remain the exclusive tenant of the training facility. The Mooseheads' current lease, set to expire next year, costs the team about $45,000 annually, he said. Coun. Patty Cuttell said while she understood the need for the expansion, she had concerns about the municipality paying for a space for the exclusive use of a privately owned franchise. "If we build this, what's the cost recovery through the lease?" she asked. Maggie MacDonald, the executive director of parks and recreation, recommended a staff report to examine the financial implications, the assessment of public good, and potential cost recovery mechanisms. Cuttell said she would be willing to ask for a staff report once she examined the motion in greater detail.


CTV News
39 minutes ago
- CTV News
‘Mission Impossible:' Maritime students struggle to find summer jobs
Its the end of the school year and thousands of students have hit the pavement looking for work. But finding and securing a summer job is proving harder and harder for students across the country. 'In the summertime it can be quite competitive. Due to my age, its hard to find opportunities out there to get a paying job,' says Grade 9 student, Olivia Hernandez-Jennex. 'I've probably sent out around 10 resumes around my area.' The federal government announced an expansion of the Canada Summer Jobs program, which offers wage subsidies to businesses hiring young people for seasonal work. That comes with a $25-million price tag, which Devin Drover, the Atlantic director for the Canadian Taxpayers Association, says is a concern for them. 'This [comes] at a time where the Government of Canada is spending tens of billions of dollars just on servicing government debt. So, we're always cautious to see more expenditure at a time when the government, every year is adding on a lot of borrowing,' says Drover. There's no denying the demand is being felt here at home. Stephanie Schnare, the marketing manager for the Halifax Shopping Centre, says a recent job fair held at the mall drew a large crowd. 'We definitely saw between 100 [and] 150 people come out for the job fair which is significant,' says Schnare. 'We saw anywhere from high school students to certainly university and younger grads.' But even with help, some students say it continues to be a struggle. Whether it's having a lack of experience or finding a job that allows them to juggle other responsibilities. 'As a nursing student where we have a super busy schedule during the summer, and we have clinical hours. So that can make it difficult to work because we're already doing full time clinical hours as well,' says Dalhousie University nursing student, Samantha Layden. As the national unemployment rate skyrockets, job seekers of all ages are at a standstill. 'My little brother [is] trying to find just summer employment… I have family members trying to find full-time employment that have recently been laid off and it just seems like mission impossible for anyone to find a job right now,' says another Dalhousie University student, Karah Fleet. But Drover believes the federal government is better suited helping businesses, as way to combat the issue. 'Its clear that businesses are struggling…whether it's through prices going up due to inflation or things like the threat of tariffs, it means there's less opportunity to hire and to grow their business. So I think, one of the things the federal government could do right now is look at lowering some of the corporate tax rates,' says Drover.

National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Largo Announces $10 Million Factoring Facility to Accelerate Receivables and Support Working Capital
Article content All dollar amounts expressed are in thousands of U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. Article content TORONTO — Largo Inc. (' Largo ' or the ' Company ') (TSX: LGO) (NASDAQ: LGO) today announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Largo Resources USA (' LUSA '), has entered into a non-recourse factoring facility dated June 10, 2025 (the ' Facility ') with a well-established third-party factoring company (the ' Factor ') for the sale of certain accounts receivable. Article content Under the terms of the Facility, LUSA may sell eligible accounts receivable to the Factor for receipts of up to $10 million. The Factor will advance 85% of the invoice value, with commission rates ranging from 0.51% for invoices up to 30 days, to 1.37% for those up to 90 days, depending on customer payment terms. All factored invoices are on a non-recourse basis, with the Factor assuming credit risk. The Company is working with the Factor to establish similar receivables purchase facilities for Largo Inc. and Largo Commodities Trading Ltd., which is expected to increase the overall size of the Facility, subject to the inclusion of additional customers and credit approvals. The Facility has an initial term of two years, and the Factor may terminate it with 90 days' prior written notice or immediately in the event of default. Article content Daniel Tellechea, Interim CEO of Largo stated: 'This Facility allows us to access liquidity more quickly by monetizing receivables tied to vanadium shipments, which can take between 30 and 90 days to convert to cash. Improving working capital efficiency is a necessary step as we work through our operational turnaround plan.' He continued: 'This Facility is expected to better align cash inflows with expenditures and ensures we have additional flexibility to support day-to-day operations while continuing our efforts to stabilize production and improve sales.' CIRQUE Capital, Inc. acted as the Company's financial advisor and arranger in connection with the Facility and will receive certain custodial fees pursuant to the terms of the Facility. Article content About Largo Article content Largo is a globally recognized supplier of high-quality vanadium and ilmenite products, sourced from its world-class Maracás Menchen Mine in Brazil. As one of the world's largest primary vanadium producers, Largo produces critical materials that empower global industries, including steel, aerospace, defense, chemical, and energy storage sectors. The Company is committed to operational excellence and sustainability, leveraging its vertical integration to ensure reliable supply and quality for its customers. Article content Largo is also strategically invested in the long-duration energy storage sector through its 50% ownership of Storion Energy, a joint venture with Stryten Energy focused on scalable domestic electrolyte production for utility-scale vanadium flow battery long-duration energy storage solutions in the U.S. Article content Largo's common shares trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol 'LGO'. For more information on the Company, please visit Article content This press release contains 'forward-looking information' and 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and amount of estimated future production and sales; the future price of commodities; costs of future activities and operations, including, without limitation, the effect of inflation and exchange rates; the effect of tariffs; the effect of unforeseen equipment maintenance or repairs on production; the ability to produce high purity V2O5 and V2O3 according to customer specifications; the extent of capital and operating expenditures; the ability of the Company to make improvements on its current short-term mine plan; and the impact of global delays and related price increases on the Company's global supply chain and future sales of vanadium products. Article content The following are some of the assumptions upon which forward-looking information is based: that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; demand for, and stable or improving price of V2O5 and other vanadium products, ilmenite and titanium dioxide pigment; receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, permits and renewals in a timely manner; that the Company will not experience any material accident, labour dispute or failure of plant or equipment or other material disruption in the Company's operations at the Maracás Menchen Mine or relating to Largo Clean Energy, specially in respect of the installation and commissioning of the EGPE project; the availability of financing for operations and development; the availability of funding for future capital expenditures; the ability to replace current funding on terms satisfactory to the Company; the ability to mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall; the reliability of production, including, without limitation, access to massive ore, the Company's ability to procure equipment, services and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; that the estimates of the resources and reserves at the Maracás Menchen Mine are within reasonable bounds of accuracy (including with respect to size, grade and recovery and the operational and price assumptions on which such estimates are based); the accuracy of the Company's mine plan at the Maracás Menchen Mine; that the Company's current plans for ilmenite can be achieved; the Company's ability to protect and develop its technology; the Company's ability to maintain its IP; the competitiveness of the Company's product in an evolving market; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled personnel and directors; the ability of management to execute strategic goals; Article content that the Company will enter into agreements for the sales of vanadium, ilmenite and TiO2 products on favourable terms and for the sale of substantially all of its annual production capacity; and receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, permits and renewals in a timely manner. Article content Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'plans', 'expects' or 'does not expect', 'is expected', 'budget', 'scheduled', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'anticipates' or 'does not anticipate', or 'believes', or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will be taken', 'occur' or 'be achieved', although not all forward-looking statements include those words or phrases. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections, guidance, potential or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts nor assurances of future performance but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances. Forward-looking statements are based on our opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such information is stated, subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Largo to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks described in the annual information form of Largo and in its public documents filed on and available on from time to time. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although management of Largo has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Largo does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Readers should also review the risks and uncertainties sections of Largo's annual and interim MD&A which also apply. Article content Article content Article content Article content Investor Relations Article content Article content Article content Article content