Can farms in Ontario hire foreign workers for seasonal agriculture?
Yes. The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is a federal pathway specifically designed for Canadian farms to hire foreign workers for seasonal agricultural work. SAWP is separate from the standard LMIA streams and has its own rules, administered federally through Service Canada with the involvement of source-country governments.
SAWP allows workers from participating countries — primarily Mexico and several Caribbean nations — to come to Canada for up to eight months to work on Canadian farms. Ontario has a significant SAWP workforce, particularly in the tender fruit, vegetable, tobacco, and greenhouse sectors.
Farmers still apply for an LMIA to participate in SAWP, but the process is administered differently than the standard High-Wage or Low-Wage streams. The federal program sets minimum wage rates and requires employers to provide housing and transportation.
There is also an Agricultural Stream under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for agricultural positions that do not meet SAWP's criteria (for example, year-round positions, or workers from non-SAWP countries). Each stream has distinct requirements.
Workers under SAWP are entitled to Ontario's provincial employment standards protections under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, including minimum wage and rest period protections.
Key takeaways
- Ontario farms can hire seasonal foreign agricultural workers through the federal SAWP program.
- SAWP covers workers from Mexico and specific Caribbean countries for up to eight months.
- A federal LMIA is still required, but processed under SAWP-specific rules.
- Ontario's employment standards apply to SAWP workers alongside federal immigration rules.