By Pioneer Staff
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The quarantine program for temporary foreign workers arriving in B.C. for seasonal agriculture work has been extended by the Province.
The B.C. government has committed to continuously funding hotels, food-service costs, laundry services, wellness walks, interpretation and translation services and health screening for temporary foreign workers during the quarantine period.
“These seasonal workers are so vital to our farming communities and play an integral role in preserving our province’s food supply,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, in a recent press release. “Extending our quarantine program will provide peace of mind to workers, employers and communities that we are doing everything possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19. I know some of these workers leave their homes to come to B.C. year after year, many returning to the same farms where they have developed close relationships, and we are grateful for their help in growing and harvesting food for British Columbians.”
After arriving in Canada, the federal officials from the Canadian Border Service Agency and Public Health Agency of Canada will screen temporary foreign workers for symptoms of COVID-19.
Anyone that is asymptomatic may be held at a provincial quarantine site for 14-days.
For those who test positive with symptoms of COVID-19, a mandatory quarantine will be put in place for 14-days or workers may be sent to the hospital under the federal Quarantine Act. After the quarantine period, if there are no symptoms and the employee has fully recovered, workers will be transported to their farm.
The Province spent approximately $17 million on accommodations, meals and laundry service for the 4,997 temporary foreign workers who came to B.C. between April 13, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020. Of those workers who arrived between April and Dec. 31, 2020, 64 COVID-19 positive cases were detected. All recovered while under the care and supervision of the provincial quarantine program.
Prior to the creation of the quarantine program in place, an additional 2,000 temporary foreign workers came to B.C. for seasonal agriculture work, for a total of approximately 7,000 temporary foreign workers for the 2020 calendar year. In 2021, it’s estimated that approximately 11,000 temporary foreign workers will come to B.C., similar to 2019 and previous years. Farmers and farm workers must also follow all provincial health officer (PHO) guidelines, including the PHO industrial camp order, which covers B.C.’s agriculture and seafood industry.
“In the context of COVID-19, the Consulate of Mexico in Vancouver praises the actions taken by the B.C. government to ensure the safety and health of Mexican Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program workers by providing quarantine centres and physically inspecting the housing facilities before their arrival,” said Berenice Diaz Ceballos, Mexican Consul General in a recent press release. “The ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, and the consulate has allowed us to keep our nationals safe and informed. We look forward to jointly addressing the challenges we face during these complex times and after the pandemic is over.”
