The federal government is investing $1.9 million under the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund to help Manitoba farmers better protect the health and safety of farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government says in a news release on Nov. 10.
“Everyone needs to feel safe and supported when they go to work. Protecting the health and well-being of all farm workers who are helping ensure the food security for Canadians has been a top priority since the beginning of the pandemic,” Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food, says in the news release.
Eligible activities include direct infrastructure improvements to living quarters and work stations, temporary or emergency housing (on or off-farm), as well as personal protective equipment, sanitary stations, work stations and any other health and safety measures that safeguard the health and safety of Canadian and temporary foreign workers from COVID-19, the release says.
Contributions under the program will be cost-shared 50:50 with the applicants up to $100,000. An additional 10 per cent will be provided to women, youth, visible minorities, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities, amounting to a 60:40 split as the Government of Canada promotes and empowers underrepresented groups in the agricultural sector, the release notes. Applications will be accepted starting Nov. 10.
