Terms of Reference

LMI Agricultural Supply and Demand Forecast Model

Objectives
Theobjectives of this project are to:

  • Develop a labour market information (LMI) supply and demand model that will describe the current agricultural labour market, and generate a forecast labour supply and demand and expected gaps, nationally, provincially and by commodity.
  • Investigate options and opportunities to increase the participation of under-represented groups (e.g. Aboriginal people, new Canadians, older workers).

Project Duration
The project will be undertaken over a three year period, ending December 31, 2016.

Meaningful Outcomes
The advisory group shall ensure that the project outcomes are consistent with those required by the funder and that they are meaningful to potential end users, including producers, job seekers, educational institutions and provincial governments.

The outcomes are:

  • More accurate and cohesive LMI- Currently LMI is collected by a variety of organizations in a fragmented manner, and the industry lacks an accurate and cohesive LMI picture. This project will make significant progress in addressing this shortcoming by developing a more complete and robust labour market information system in Canada.
  • Enhanced collaboration - Formation of a Provincial LMI Panel, which is expected to collaborate beyond the duration of this project, will develop a more strategic long-term view of pan-Canadian agricultural labour trends that spans agricultural commodity sub-sectors.
  • Increased labour market access- Facilitating increased employment of Canadian populations currently underrepresented in the agriculture sector, including Aboriginal peoples, new Canadians and older workers is an explicit focus of this project.

Role of an Advisory Group Member
Advisory Group members shall:

  • Participate in two in-person meetings, and conference calls, per year. One meeting will take place in the Spring (March-April), and the other in the Fall (October-November) of 2014, 2015 and 2016.
  • Identify key lines of enquiry to ensure meaningful outcomes for the agricultural community.
  • Review and offer input on workplans, research instruments, tool drafts, report drafts, and other project elements.
  • Offer project supports as needed and feasible, including but not limited to:
  • Promoting and circulating project surveys
  • Identifying survey and focus group participants
  • Communicating project updates, products and outcomes.
  • Identifying pertinent subject matter experts to participate on the advisory group and working groups, and in the the research, development and validation activities.
  • Be invited to attend an LMI Roundtable in the Fall of 2016 where project results will be disseminated to the agricultural community.
  • Supportcommunications at each phase of the project.

Advisory Group Members
The Advisory Group is comprised of up to 20 experts representing various commodities and regions of Canada, including representatives of provincial agriculture ministries, industry associations, and educational organizations.

Chair: Merv Wiseman, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture

Marilyn Hutchinson, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Connie Kehler, Canadian Herb, Spice and Natural Health Products Coalition

Jean-Philippe Gervais, Farm Credit Canada

Heather Ferrier, Farm Management Canada

Jack Greydanus, Canadian Federation of Agriculture,

Marc Ouellet, Association of Agricultural Producers of New Brunswick

Sally Harvey, Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association

Lloyd Dyck, Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture

Peter Sykanda, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Peter Enright, Canadian Association of Diploma in Agriculture Programs

Stephanie Cruickshanks, Manitoba Agriculture Foods and Rural Development

Alan Dooley, Alberta Agriculture

Robert Ouellet, AGRIcarrières

Jennifer Curtis, B.C. Agriculture

Pierre-Luc Lacoste, Canadian Young Farmers Forum

Barb Alves, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Ken Linington, Flowers Canada Growers

Basil Attwood, P.E.I. Agriculture Sector Council

Support
A Project Manager, a Senior Research Advisor and a LMI consulting team will support the advisory group. They will engage the advisory group in discussions about the project’s design, development, implementation and dissemination.

Recognition
Advisory group member shall be recognized for their contribution by having their name appear in reports and any other public documents that result from the project.

First Meeting
The first advisory group meeting will take place in Ottawa on March 28, 2014. The advisory group, the LMI consultant and Council staff will ensure that the following meeting goals are realized:

  1. Develop a common understanding of the project’s purpose, elements, activities and deliverables
  2. Develop a common understanding of the roles played by the advisory group, the consultants and the Council
  3. Presentation and discussion of the tentative project workplan
  4. Discussion of ways to maximize the effectiveness of the project activities and deliverables
  5. Discussion of potential project challenges or risks, and ways to ensure success.

The dates and locations for subsequent meetings will be determined in the coming months. Not all advisory group meetings shall take place in Ottawa.