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Province Announces Plan for More Testing on Farms for Migrant Workers

Premier Doug Ford was livid to hear that migrant workers in Brantford were subject to racist slurs and taunts recently. He encourages everyone to thank the migrant workers and remember they didn't come here with COVID-19.

ONTARIO - Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will not tolerate racist slurs towards migrant workers.

He was asked about recent reports of migrant workers being subject to racist taunts in Brantford. Ford says there is no place for that in our society.

"Folks let me tell you something and I think the majority of people, the vast of majority of people, 99.9 percent of people would support this comment, we have zero tolerance for any racial slur. Let me say something to the people using those racial slurs, those vegetables your eating is because of these migrant workers, those fruits you are eating that we can grow in greenhouses are because of migrant workers and if you don't appreciate the migrant workers than you go out in the fields and start working your back off when it's 100 degrees out in the middle of summer."

Ford says these are good people.

"They aren't here to hurt anyone, they are here to help us, make a few dollars and I am just get dead against that and if you see a migrant worker, matter of fact, you should tell them thank you for working your back off because a lot of people aren't willing to do the work that they are doing and that is why we call them in. Remember, they never came here with COVID-19, they all self isolated, the people here gave them COVID-19 and then it all spread through congregate living."

You can listen to Ford's remarks below:


The Province also announced today a plan to reduce transmission on farms and in the community.


The three-point plan builds on the work already underway by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and enhances the coordinated efforts of the province, federal and local authorities. The plan's three points are as follows:

1. Ongoing and expanded on-site testing

Ontario is continuing to facilitate on-site testing at agri-food businesses and community assessment centres to make proactive testing more timely and accessible. About 350 asymptomatic workers have been tested at their work site since on-site testing launched this past weekend. Ontario is currently engaging employers to schedule more mobile testing on farms. Early identification of workers who are not showing symptoms, but who may be infected with COVID-19, will help reduce the potential spread of the virus in the workplace and the community.

2. Access to Employment Benefits and Supports

Temporary foreign workers are entitled to the same benefits and protections as any other worker in Ontario. That includes workers' compensation benefits, which are administered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). It also includes protections afforded by the Employment Standards Act. Under Ontario's new infectious disease emergency leave provisions, a worker's job is protected while they take unpaid leave due to COVID-19.

In certain cases, temporary foreign workers may also be eligible to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). To access the federal benefit, workers must have earned $5,000 in the last 12 months or in the previous year.

3. New Public Health Guidance

The Chief Medical Officer of Health will issue new public health guidance allowing positive asymptomatic workers to continue working as long as they follow the public health measures in their workplace to minimize the risk of transmission to others. This guidance will provide clarity and assurance that local public health officials will assist with interpreting test results and developing a plan that, first and foremost, ensures essential workers in the sector are able to return to work safely and meet the business-critical operational needs on a case-by-case basis.

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