Government now exempts TFWs from travel ban

By Lyonel Doherty

Okanagan farmers have finally been given some assurance that they will have access to temporary foreign workers to help with this year’s harvest.

Travel restrictions were put in place recently to stem the spread of COVID-19, which worried fruit growers in Oliver and Osoyoos who rely heavily on foreign workers to pick their fruit.

But last Friday the Canadian government confirmed that exemptions to air travel restrictions will apply to seasonal agricultural workers and other essential workers.

The government is also increasing the maximum allowable employment duration for workers in the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program from one to two years.

In addition to health screening protocols before travel, all individuals entering from abroad must isolate for 14 days upon their arrival in Canada.

Glen Lucas, general manager of the BC Fruit Growers Association, said there will be stringent protocols to protect workers and the public from the spread of COVID-19.

“We also expect some delays in arranging flights, as commercial flights will be limited and industry may need to charter airplanes, which takes time.”

Lucas said with all of the restrictions and limitations in place, he anticipates the Okanagan tree fruit and grape industries will remain short of workers throughout the year.

“We are encouraging able-bodied youth (over the age of 15) and unemployed workers to check on Job Bank for work in the agricultural sector.”

Lucas said Job Bank is the federal job board that is accessible online.

“In tree fruit, our greatest need for workers start in mid-June with the start of cherry harvest and continues until the end of October.”

Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, said the participation of temporary foreign workers on farms is absolutely necessary.

“It is nothing less than an issue of food security. We are making sure that our food supply chain is not compromised by the closure of our borders, as we now need thousands of workers on the farms for the planting season.”