Canada’s new mandatory quarantine rules, which discourage international travel, are causing concern for farm operators who depend on offshore labor.
Canada’s four primary airlines have cancelled service to the Caribbean, Mexico, and all Central and South American countries, but Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s Keith Currie says that there is little to no doubt this year the contracted offshore farmworkers will be allowed into Canada.
According to Currie, “These are people who are coming to the country to work in an essential business, that being agriculture, and that is allowed under our COVID protocols, and it certainly is very much needed. We are typically short, even with migrant workers, so these workers are vital to food production here in Canada.”
With the cancellation of Canadian airline flights, farmers registered with offshore worker programs will have to pay for charter flights.
Related:
Concerns mount over seasonal workers getting into Canada (RealAg Radio)
