Temporary Foreign Worker in Agriculture Industry Housing Improvement Program

The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) in Agriculture Industry Housing Improvement Program is designed to support the improvement of the quality of housing for temporary foreign workers in PEI’s agriculture sector.  

Am I eligible to apply for funding under the Temporary Foreign Worker in Agriculture Industry Housing Improvement Program?

The following includes a summary of program and funding eligibility. Before completing the application form, please review program and funding criteria in the Temporary Foreign Worker in Agriculture Industry Housing Improvement Program Guidelines.

Eligible recipients:

• Operators in the PEI agricultural sector who have received approval from the Government of Canada to hire temporary foreign workers through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program stream.

Eligible recipients must:

• Own the property that is used to house the TFWs; and
• Provide proof of a satisfactory housing inspection for the location by Environmental Health or a qualified third party within the last 12 months.

Eligible expenses/activities

Funding will be offered through an application program for work that will improve the quality of housing for TFWs. Eligible expenses/activities will include:

• Repairs (e.g., sewage systems, emergency repairs, other repairs);
• Maintenance (e.g., painting, upgrading floor coverings, pest control, cleaning);
• Improvements to the quality of accommodations (e.g., more cooktops/ventilation systems, more bathrooms, in-house laundry facilities, window coverings);
• Internet expansion and telephones to support workers communications with family outside PEI;
• Heat pumps;
• Quality mattresses;
• First aid kits and carbon monoxide detectors;
• More fridge space;
• Fire and building inspections;
• Personal fire safes to store passports and work permits;
• Fire blankets; and
• Fire ladders for 2nd floor locations that do not meet the 20-foot drop requirement to have one.

Ineligible expenses/activities include:

• Any improvements that are not directly related to housing for TFWs in the agriculture sector;
• Any improvements for housing not owned by the operator; and
• Improvements that are done to bring the housing up to the minimum standards required for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program stream of the Government of Canada’s TFW program.

What do I need to provide to apply?

1. Application form
2. Short summary of proposed work
3. Proof of a satisfactory housing inspection for the location by Environmental Health or a qualified third party within the last 12 months

For more information contact:

PEI Department of Agriculture 
11 Kent Street
PO Box 2000
Charlottetown PE C1A 7N8
Telephone: (902) 368-4880
Email: AGTFW@gov.pe.ca