NewsIndustryOntario Government Give $15 million to Protect Ag Workers Amid Pandemic

Ontario Government Give $15 million to Protect Ag Workers Amid Pandemic

-

Employers in the agri-food sector in Ontario will now be able to access funds to enhance health and safety measures on farms and in food processing facilities, a news release from the government on June 12 says. The government is investing $15 million to significantly expand the Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program.

“Today’s investment will allow farmers to adapt to this new environment and implement additional health and safety measures during the COVID-19 outbreak,” Ernie Hardeman, minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, says in the release.

The program provides a cost-share funding for employers to purchases personal protective equipment (PPE) and implement workplace modifications and other measures. By significantly expanding the program, employers can take additional steps to improve health and safety for their workers and ensure the continued supply of food during the pandemic, the release notes.

This announcement comes following COVID-19 outbreaks amongst temporary foreign workers at farms in southern Ontario.

Trending This Week

Rooted in Pride: Spirit of the Potato Industry Shines at MPPD

When I asked Susan Ainsworth what she hoped attendees would take away from the 52nd annual Manitoba Potato Production Days, without hesitation she said,...

Study Points to South America – Not Mexico – As Birthplace of Irish Potato...

0
Mystery solved. Researchers at North Carolina State University have traced the origins of the Irish potato famine pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, to the South American Andes Mountains. Through...

Building Resilience: What Role Does the CPC Play in Canada’s Potato Industry?

Canadian potato growers today must continue to evolve amid a changing agricultural landscape, where sustainable practices and technological innovation are imperative for success. Understanding these...

Live From the Farm: Grandpa Heppell Shares Advice for Young Potato Growers on Instagram

When Tyler Heppell reached out to his 500,000 Instagram followers inviting them to ask his 87-year-old grandpa “anything” he couldn’t have imagined the flood...

Driving Change in Potato Research: An Interview with Dr. Ratna Preeti Kaur of India

0
Under the umbrella of the World Potato Congress (WPC) driven Declaration of Dublin: Fostering Potato Partnerships for Food Security, each year, a portion of...