By Alice McFarlane

Travel restrictions will not prevent agriculture workers from coming to Canada

Feb 12, 2021 | 4:24 PM

The federal government announced this week it would further restrict nonessential travel in and out of the country but will ensure temporary foreign workers will not be impacted by these restrictions.

Agriculture and Agri-Food minister Marie-Claude Bibeau spoke to the media today to clarify how the policy would affect agriculture workers. She made it clear once again that farm workers are considered essential.

“Starting Feb. 22, nonessential travellers and essential agriculture workers will be tested upon arrival in Canada,” Bibeau said.

Only nonessential travellers will be required to stay in a designated hotel while they wait for their test results before returning to their homes to complete the 14-day quarantine, according to Bibeau.

“Temporary foreign workers will be allowed to go directly to their work location to do their 14-day quarantine under the supervision of their employer,” Bibeau said.

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The procedure will change in mid-March after consultation with the provinces and agriculture partners.

“After having agreed on a similar protocol, the temporary foreign workers will go to a designated facility or hotel to wait for the results of their COVID-19 test before they can proceed to the place of employment to complete their 14-day quarantine,” she said. “If they test positive, they will have to stay in the designated area before they proceed to their place of employment.”

Bibeau added employers will not have to pay for the additional cost related to the additional testing or the expense of the hotel stay while they are waiting for the results. The federal government will be taking on these costs.

Bibeau said the plan was put in place to ensure the health of agriculture workers and Canadians as well as protecting the health care system.

Most temporary foreign workers come from Mexico, Guatemala and Caribbean nations.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF