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Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau says supporting Canada’s growers is a priority for the federal government during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the Canadian fruit and vegetable industry's first-ever virtual Fall Harvest event, Bibeau praised the strength and resiliency of Canada's fruit and vegetable producers and processors amid the pandemic.
Bibeau also highlighted the Government of Canada's efforts to support produce farmers and processors who are facing significant challenges during the crisis, including the new $35 million Emergency On-Farm Support Fund to support farm workers' health and safety, and the $50 million Surplus Food Rescue Program to ensure surplus goods reach vulnerable populations while providing a fair return to producers.
Bibeau says the federal government has taken several steps to facilitate the arrival of temporary foreign workers into Canada, which resulted in about 85% of workers arriving at Canadian farms compared to the same time last year. The Government also extended to November 30, 2020 the $50 million Mandatory Isolation Support for Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which helps growers cover the costs of observing the mandatory quarantine periods for those workers.
Bibeau also announced three new smaller projects to benefit the sector totaling $387,000 under the AgriRisk Initiatives program. These projects will examine better financial tools and insurance products to provide growers with greater stability and sustainability. They included:
Research of the Ontario horticulture sector to support development of a whole-farm producer-paid top-up insurance product; a risk management financial product for disease and insect infestations for greenhouses; and development of a tool for growers to assess their vulnerability and take the necessary actions to increase their resilience to climate change.
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