January 4, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, ON – Lianne Rood, Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Richard Lehoux, Member of Parliament for Beauce, today released the following statement:

“The federal Liberals have issued a blanket requirement for all international travellers, including international farm workers, to test negative for COVID-19 before boarding a Canada-bound flight. Yet this does nothing to reduce isolation times so workers can get our food to market. For weeks, Conservatives have been calling on the Liberal Government to implement a rapid testing pilot for international farm workers in time for the greenhouse growers’ season that began January 1.

“Greenhouse vegetable producers rely on international farm workers for their growing season and vegetable growers need workers to continue packing crops. The new PCR policy is set to come into effect this week with no clarity for thousands of Canadian farmers and their employees.

“Conservatives have been raising concerns with the Minister since November, yet we see no action while thousands of Canadian farmers are left in the dark.

“Canada’s Conservatives will continue to stand up for Canadian farmers and their employees. Justin Trudeau and the Liberals must address this important issue immediately – before this season is lost.”

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