Ottawa, Ontario – The Government of Canada recognizes the critical role of the food supply chain and is committed to improving the safety of these workplaces.
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an investment of $7.5 million under the Emergency On-Farm Support Fund to help Quebec farmers better protect the health and safety of farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This measure will be administered by La Financiere Agricole du Quebec (FADQ).
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 (PPE), 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.
Applications will be accepted through La Financiere agricole from December 14, 2020, to February 26, 2021. The financial assistance consists of a lump sum of up to 2% of salaries or 50% of eligible expenses declared by the farm. The financial assistance can be increased to 2.4% of salaries or to 60% of eligible expenses when the business is majority owned by women, young farmers under 40, people with disabilities, members of visible minorities or Indigenous peoples, as the Government of Canada encourages and empowers under-represented groups in the agriculture sector.
Source : Government of Canada