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March 20th, 2020

NDP MP calls for support for agricultural sector during COVID-19 pandemic

NDP MP and Critic for Agriculture, Alistair MacGregor, made the following statement:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges and producers are worried about making ends meet. Yesterday, I spoke with the Minister for Agriculture and shared the concerns I’ve heard from food producers across Canada.

As farmers gear up for their planting season many operations are concerned that, with the necessary travel restrictions in response to COVID-19, the lack of temporary foreign workers will cause significant challenges and further financial hardship.

It’s important that we support producers and work with the government to find safe and effective ways to make sure producers are able to employ healthy, available workers to address any labour shortages they face.

Producers were reassured that the government is offering loans to help Canadian businesses in various sectors deal with the financial fallout of the virus, but the government shouldn’t have made people who need help now wait this long before presenting a plan.

We’ve been calling for this financial help for weeks and we are ready to work with the government to get that support to Canadians as quickly as possible.”