The Ontario government, in collaboration with the agri-food sector, has devised a strategy to help government and farmers alike to address COVID-19 concerns.
Called the “Prevention, Control and Outbreak Support Strategy for COVID-19 in Ontario’s Farm Workers,” it puts forward recommendations into immediate and long-term pressures relating to the coronavirus under three pillars — before getting on the farm, on the farm, and housing.
Reading through the lengthy, 35-point document online also provides hints for what farmers can anticipate going into the 2021 season, as the provincial government looks to tamper down on the spread of COVID-19 among agriculture workers.
In Niagara Region there have been two major COVID-19 outbreaks at farms in St. Catharines and Lincoln, which have collectively sickened at least 100 workers this season.
Three migrant workers from Mexico have died as a result of COVID-19 after having worked on farms in Windsor-Essex and in Simcoe.
Though the strategy puts forward recommendations only, in a detailed response to emailed questions from Niagara This Week, Ministry of Agriculture spokesperson, Christa Roettele, said in part, “We are moving forward in partnership with the agriculture sector” to implement the recommendations.
Roettele also said agriculture minister, Ernie Hardeman, the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture “signed a commitment to the join government-industry” strategy.
Before reaching the farm, the strategy relies heavily on prevention measures such as providing information to workers on an ongoing basis, farmer knowledge on what to do if a worker shows symptoms or has COVID-19, screening measures and record keeping to track movements.
Once on the farm, the strategy calls for screening questions, physical distancing, personal protective equipment (like masks), regular hand hygiene and sanitization of work areas.
This section of the strategy also recommends thinking of podding, bubbling or keeping workers in cohorts to limit exposure to other workers.
Focusing on housing for the last pillar, the strategy addresses living arrangements for temporary foreign workers and future actions to mitigate spread.
The strategy states there is a “lack of detailed intelligence” on present living arrangements for agricultural workers and called for a streamlined approach to dwelling inspections, noting inconsistencies in inspections and expectations of dwellings across the province.
An industry and government working group has been established to focus on immediate housing pressures, ministry spokesperson Roettele confirmed.
The strategy recommends the group examine data on present living arrangements, review transmission risks within congregate housing to identify high-impact changes that can be made, and to develop a list of companies able to provide temporary housing.
The province will also make recommendations to the federal government on housing configurations to allow for better physical distancing.
In consultation with provinces and others, the federal government will then develop mandatory accommodation requirements under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Looking forward to the 2021 season, the province is aiming to adopt an “improved process” for temporary foreign workers coming into Ontario, including actions like screening, health checks, and disseminating COVID-19 information.
“The government and industry partners are working together to implement the recommended actions in the strategy to be ready for the upcoming season,” Roettele said.
To view the strategy in its entirety, visit www.omafra.gov.on.ca.
- Jordan Snobelen, Local Journalism Initiative, Niagara This Week
