Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the union representing over 155,000 federal public servants, are on strike after the federal government and PSAC failed to reach an agreement yesterday. PSAC members play a key role in the administration of agricultural programs and services, as well as the movement of good across Canada and into international markets.
More specifically, a labour disruption could affect delivery of certain federal agriculture programs, including AgriInvest, AgriStability, the Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program, Youth Employment and Skills Program, and programs under the new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Beyond these programs, the services provided by the Canadian Grain Commission and administration of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, both vital services for Canadian agriculture, could also be negatively affected.
Through our membership to the CFA (with our affiliation to the National Sheep Network (NSN)), the CFA has written to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada requesting that the government take urgent measures to ensure adequate contingencies are in place (e.g., Essential Service Agreement) that would ensure any strike action would not unduly impact the movement of agriculture products and that all programs continue to be delivered uninterrupted.
More information on service impacts is available on Canada.ca/labour-disruptions and will be updated regularly. A quick unofficial summary of the related impacts is available here: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/here-s-how-the-strike-by-public-service-workers-will-impact-federal-services-1.6353262
We will be sure to share any additional information that we receive as it becomes available.
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