Seasonal workers waiting for word to go

The federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship has announced some exemptions to the travel restrictions put in place to stem the spread of COVID-19, including seasonal agricultural workers.

They may be allowed to travel early next week.

In an email sent by FARMS, an agricultural organization providing resources for farmers, CanAG Travel Services says it will do its best to accommodate air travel. The travel service has been “in constant communication with airlines and source countries.”

Jamaica has contacted workers to be on standby travel notice, as well as making sure they want to come to Canada at this time.

Mexico has indicated it will need four days, since workers in some cases need two or more days to travel to the Mexico City Airport.

In the other three countries of Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and Trinidad and Tabago, CanAg Travel will make sure workers are ready to travel and co-ordinate accordingly. 

process for agriculture and food processing employers. The required two-week recruitment period will be waived for the next six months.

“In addition to health screening protocols before travel, all individuals entering from abroad must isolate for 14 days upon their arrival in Canada,” says the news release issued late Friday.

“Allowing foreign workers to enter Canada recognizes their vital importance to the Canadian economy, including food security for Canadians and the success of Canadian food producers. The arrival of farm workers and fish/seafood workers is essential to ensure that planting and harvesting activities can take place. There will always be jobs available for Canadians who wish to work on farms and at food processing plants.”