Type of Intervention: Financial and Economic, Specific Action
Sectors Involved: Private Sector and Businesses, Supply Chains
Intervention Categories: Finance policy and financial aid; Stimulus packages and financial support
Level of Jurisdiction: Ontario
Lead People/Agency: Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Overview: The Ontario government is furthering its commitment to agri-food workers during the COVID-19 pandemic by significantly expanding the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program and committing $15 million to enhance health and safety measures on farms and in food processing facilities. The program provides cost-share funding to farmers to purchase PPE and implement workplace modifications. Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) has also partnered with Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMFRA) to provide agri-food partners with educational materials and consulting services to help them meet COVID-19-related health and safety protocols.
Full details here: https://news.ontario.ca/omafra/en/2020/06/ontario-protecting-agri-food-workers-during-covid-19.html
Other links: 1 2
Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group
Source of Evidence or Justification: Sub-national, Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19
Evidence/Justification: This action is part of Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19, which intends to provide immediate, direct support to businesses, employees, families, students, Indigenous peoples and communities, and vulnerable populations during the pandemic. The government justifies this action and investment as a means to keep the food supply chain strong, and for farmers to offer sufficient protection for their workers.