READY FOR SPRING

Hundreds of inspectors will visit sites to protect temporary foreign workers arriving in coming weeks

Ontario ramps up farm inspections to protect temporary foreign workers

TORONTO — Ontario is ramping up pandemic safety inspections on farms where thousands of migrant workers are set to arrive for the new growing season, although the labour minister wouldn’t say if those employees would have access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Monte Mcnaughton said Wednesday that hundreds of inspectors will visit farms in the coming weeks to ensure safety measures are being followed.

“Last year, we knew farmers needed extra guidance on how to protect workers so our visits focused on education,” Mcnaughton said. “This year, we’re enforcing and issuing orders, no excuses.”

More than 20,00 migrant workers — an essential labour force for the province’s food supply chain — are set to take up jobs at Ontario farms and greenhouses in the coming weeks.

During the first wave of the pandemic, dozens of farm outbreaks were reported across the province as Ontario struggled to test and isolate workers.

More than 1,780 temporary foreign workers in Ontario tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020, and three died of the virus.

Last November, the province introduced a strategy with 35 recommendations aimed preventing farm outbreaks, protecting workers and securing the food supply chain.

Getting out to conduct farm inspections now is part of a proactive plan, Mcnaughton said, adding that safety checks in worker living quarters are the duty of the federal government.

“This year, we’re starting early, visiting farms before the growing season even starts, and before most temporary foreign workers arrive,” he said.

Mcnaughton would not say, however, if Ontario will provide the COVID-19 vaccine to temporary foreign workers.

“I would urge the federal government to work as hard as possible to ensure that we get enough vaccines for all the people and all the workers here in Ontario,” Mcnaughton said when asked about the issue repeatedly.

The executive director of the Migrant Workers Alliance said the temporary foreign workers should be offered free access to the COVID-19 vaccine, but it should not be mandatory.

Syed Hussan said a public education campaign that communicates directly with workers, who may not trust the medical system, will be critical.

“We are calling for the federal and provincial governments to work together to ensure there is dignified, free access to the vaccine,” he said.

Hussan also said he is concerned that bolstering farm inspections won’t be enough to address many of the issues that caused farm outbreaks last year.