An Ontario senator, who raised concerns about the impact on agriculture from the COVID-19 pandemic, hopes for more assistance to the industry.
Sen. Robert Black of Fergus, Ontario told Real Agriculture in an interview that he has heard concerns from the dairy, cattle, grain, mushroom and other parts of the industry.
On the cattle and pork side, concern focuses around keeping packing plants open since a Quebec pork processor shut down, an Ontario beef plant has closed for safety measures, and a Calgary beef plant closed temporarily when a worker tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
The plant closures have impacted feed grain producers and animal producers across the country.
When a plant closes because of a worker with COVID-19 “you can’t just put new people in there. We need to incentivize our workers to stay in agriculture.”
Black hopes for more federal assistance for agriculture.
“What we have is just an extension of credit. The farmers have to pay it back.”
He said the temporary foreign workers program issue has been partly resolved with foreign workers coming into Canada but there are still some concerns with having to quarantine for 14 days before working.
The industry is concerned as temporary farm workers are needed for planting, maintenance and harvesting of labour-intensive crops from vegetables to fruit.
The seed potato and vegetable industry in this region relies on the program.
Black, appointed to the Senate in 2016, said Federal Minister of Agriculture Anne-Marie Bibeau is doing a good job listening and dealing with issues.
When the pandemic is over Black hopes a high level group is put together to develop measures to cope with situations like the pandemic and to ensure food security.
Since that interview the federal government has announced a $50 million program to offset wages paid temporary foreign workers while they are in quarantine for 14 days. The plan offers farmers with temporary foreign workers $1,500 per worker.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
