Labour Force Management Strategies Initiative

Overview

The Labour Force Management Strategies Initiative (the Initiative) helps primary producers and processors address local labour force challenges in the agri-food sector with pilot projects that implement:

• innovative attraction strategies
• recruitment strategies
• retention strategies

Funding for the Initiative comes from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year (2023 to 2028) investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments. Up to $4 million has been allocated for the Initiative.

Important dates

Application intake opens on October 22, 2024.

The deadline to apply is September 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET, or when available funding is fully committed — whichever comes first.

Eligibility

Refer to the Initiative guidelines (PDF) for detailed requirements.

Applicants

You must be one of the following:

• a primary producer
• a processor
• an industry organization

Projects

Projects must include at least one of the following activities:

• piloting incremental worker supports
• piloting incremental recruitment strategies in Ontario
• development of new or incremental human resource policies and programs
• planning for certain on-site amenities for employees

Funding

You could get 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $40,000 in funding for a project under the Initiative.

For industry organizations or collaborations between 2 or more businesses, you could get up to 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $100,000 in funding for a project under the Initiative.

Stacking

You cannot submit an application for a project if you have already received funding for that project through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

You can apply for and receive other government or third-party funding if the other programs allow stacking.

If you have received funding for the project through other sources, the total assistance provided from all funding sources cannot be greater than 100% of the total eligible costs. You must list all funding for a project on the application form, including funding that you receive from additional sources.

How to apply

1. Download and read the Initiative guidelines (PDF).
2. Download and complete the application form (PDF).
3. Download and complete the collaboration form (PDF), if applicable.
4. Gather the required documents.
5. Submit the application and required documents to SustainableCAP2@ontario.ca 

Application restrictions

Applicants (as a lead applicant or as part of a collaboration) may only:

• submit up to 2 applications to the Initiative at a time
• have 2 approved projects under the Initiative in total

Required documents

In addition to your application form, you must provide:

• written quotes from third parties detailing the proposed eligible costs for the project
• a collaboration form identifying any additional businesses contributing to the project when applicable

After you apply

After you submit your application, we will send you an acknowledgement email within 5 business days.

We will begin reviewing applications as they are received. If your application is missing any information, we will not assess it and you will be notified via email.

Selection process

Ministry staff will review completed application forms to determine whether you are eligible to participate in the Initiative.

Projects by eligible applicants will be evaluated based on the extent to which the following criteria are met:

• alignment of intended project outcomes
• benefits to the sector
• likelihood of success

If you are not approved

We will email you about the decision. You may request a debrief from ministry staff.

If you are approved

We will email you about the decision. We will also email you an approval letter.

You will need to meet several obligations including:

• signing the approval letter
• registering with Transfer Payment Ontario
• registering with Supply Ontario to receive payments
• submitting claim(s) and final report

Refer to the Initiative guidelines (PDF) for detailed instructions.