City of Windsor Correspondence

THE CITY OF WINDSOR OFFICE OF THE MAYOR ------------------------------DREW DILKENSMA, YDBORA The Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Health Health Canada 70 Colombine Driveway Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KlA 0K9 [email protected] The Honourable Bill Blair Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Public Safety Canada 269 Laurier Avenue West Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KlA 0P8 [email protected] September 18, 2020 RE: Temporary Foreign Worker Recovery Centre Minister Hajdu and Minister Blair, Our region is requesting urgent financial support to maintain an Isolation and Recovery Centre for guest agricultural workers affected by COVID-19. Windsor City Council has authorized Administration to support this initiative and will be the co-ordinator of any funds and agreements with the Canadian Red Cross and others as needed to support this initiative. Our local Medical Officer of Health has suggested that it is imperative to continue to provide isolation space for those who may require it in order to prevent another crisis. Earlier this summer COVID-19 caused numerous outbreaks in the agricu ltural sector in Essex County and challenged the capacity of employers to provide space to isolate. Despite utilizing over eight sites to try to contain outbreaks, in some cases the appropriate supports were not in place and unfortunately two workers passed away. While agriculture is an industry across the Country, our region is unique due to the volume of workers - an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 guest workers who stay for varying lengths of time - and the size of the farms. Over 60% of Ontario's greenhouses ca n be found in the Leamington/Kingsville area, and according to the Windsor Essex Development Corporation, these producers represent $1 billion in farm gate value. It is critical to protect this industry and the community in which it thrives. While the region is grateful to Emergency Management Ontario, Ontario Hea lth, Canadian Red Cross, the Emergency Medical Assistance Team and others for their emergency response, the situation has stabilized and the crisis is over. The agreements and supports that were instituted, such as those for funding of operations, indemnification, and hotel space, expire on September 30th. Many organizations have already left the city and those that remain, in the absence of firm plans beyond the end of the month, are planning to do so. (519) 255-6315 • 350 City Hall Square West, P.O. Box 1607, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6Sl • FAX: (519) 255-7796 E-mail: mayoro@city .windsor .on.ca THE CITY OF WINDSOR -------------------------------OFFICE OF THE MAYOR DREW DILKENSMAYOR, DBA Despite efforts by producers and agencies to mitigate any impacts of COVID-19 on the industry, that fact is that thousands of guest workers continue to be required for the work and congregate living challenges adherence to public health guidelines to prevent the spread of illness. Agricultural workers must have an avenue to isolate to prevent another COVID outbreak on farms that may threaten the progress made by the region. The Temporary Foreign Worker program is a Federal program supported by the Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, not a municipal responsibility. In early September, the federal government made $13.9 million in funding over 12 months available for Toronto Public Health to establish a voluntary self-isolation centre. Given the unique and pressing needs in Windsor-Essex, we are seeking similar funding supports. Staff and administration are available at any time to provide you or your Department officials with details regarding the local need, however given that the federal government is currently providing the Canadian Red Cross with operating funds to manage the Isolation and Recovery Centre, we would presume that you are aware of the funding associated with the current operations. In fact, due to contractual confidentiality, the City of Windsor has not been privy to the detailed breakdown of costs tha ave been spent by the Canadian Red Cross. my best wishes to you both, and your families, at this challenging time. cc. lrek Kusmierczyk, MP (Windsor-Tecumseh) (519) 255-6315 • 350 City Hall Square West, P.O. Box 1607, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6S1 • FAX: (519) 255-7796 E-mail: mayoro@city .windsor .on.ca .

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