The minister shared the news on social media
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Canada’s federal minister of agriculture has tested positive for COVID-19.
“Despite spending the holiday season quietly at home, I tested positive for #COVID19,” Marie-Claude Bibeau posted on Twitter on Jan. 3. “I am following public health guidance and will remain in isolation. I will continue to work virtually, as I have been since the end of the parliamentary session.”
The minister’s tweets described her symptoms as mild. She also encouraged vaccination and thanked health care workers.
Minister Bibeau is one of multiple people within the federal government or members of its staff to test positive for the virus.
Two days after Minister Bibeau revealed her positive test, Public Services and Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi announced she also tested positive for COVID-19.
That same day, on Jan. 5, Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough revealed she tested positive for coronavirus.
Members of government and ministerial staff have positive tests and potential exposures going back to December.
On Dec. 20, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly announced she tested positive for the virus.
On Dec. 27 Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 too.
Also, that month, Prime Minister Trudeau revealed three members of his staff and three members of his security team tested positive for COVI19.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered her December fiscal and economic update virtually after two members of her staff tested positive for COVID-19.
Defence Minister Anita Anand self-isolated last month after one of her staff members received a positive test. And minister for women, gender equality and youth, Marci Ien, isolated after a potential exposure.
In March 2020, then-MP and now minister of seniors Kamal Khera, tested positive while working as a nurse in Brampton. Ont