Canadian seasonal workers earn more than offshore help

Foreign workers earn betwee $6.81 and $7.84 an hour while Canadians earn between $7.63 and $9.44: Statistics Canada

Canadian seasonal workers are paid more than foreign workers brought into the country to help, according to Statistics Canada.

Statistics Canada looked at foreign and domestic workers hired as farm labourers or harvesters and nursery and greenhouse workers.

The survey included agricultural operations identified as horticultural in nature and having seasonal workers.

Hourly wages paid to nursery and greenhouse labourers ranged from $7.30 in the Prairies to $7.78 in Ontario for foreign workers, and from $7.52 in the Atlantic region to $9.57 in British Columbia for domestic workers.

The lowest hourly wage for foreign harvesting and farm labourers was $7.09 in the Prairies, rising to a high of $7.85 in Ontario. Wages for domestic harvesting and farm labourers ranged from $7.96 in Saskatchewan to $9.41 in British Columbia.

When wages for both occupations were combined, foreign workers earned between $6.81 an hour in Manitoba and $7.84 an hour in Ontario. Domestic labourers earned between $7.63 an hour in Saskatchewan and $9.44 an hour in British Columbia.

The survey was conducted on behalf of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. The results will be used to assist the federal government in implementing the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program by determining prevailing wage rates in the horticultural sector.

The survey included agricultural operations identified as horticultural in nature and having seasonal workers. The sample was allocated to the Atlantic region and six other provinces based on the number of horticultural operations in each of these geographic areas.

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