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March 27, 2020
New information
Number of cases: 36 (confirmed and presumptive) as of Thursday March 26
New information about seasonal workers
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada announced yesterday that exemptions are now in place to bring seasonal workers into Canada. Click here to access this information. We expect Employment and Social Development Canada to clarify requirements around domestic mobility, workplace/housing conditions and other isolation measures in the coming hours and days. KAP will continue to use this space to update this issue, and we continue to work with both the provincial and federal governments.
Manitoba government call for assistance
The Manitoba government has put out a call to businesses and individuals for certain equipment and services. The full list is available online, but includes N95 respirators, surgical/procedure masks, nitrile and vinyl gloves, cleaning and disinfecting supplies, and a vast range of services. Producers are encouraged to protect themselves, but to donate excess supplies over and above what will be required for the farming season. Click here to access the full list and to complete the form to donate.
Provincial budget measures
The province has announced that both the introduction of the Manitoba Green Levy and the reduction of the Provincial Sales Tax have been deferred given new spending requirements to tackle COVID-19. This means Manitoba will once again be subject to the full federal backstop, which will rise to $30 per tonne on April 1.
CFA resources
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture has developed a resources page on their website on COVID-19. Click here to access the page.
On-farm fuel tanks
We have heard from producers that have purchased new on-farm fuel tanks that in-person provincial inspections could take up to eight weeks to be accommodated. If this is an issue of concern for you, please email Joey at joey.dearborn@kap.ca.
Worker’s Compensation Board response to COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WCB Manitoba is providing relief measures for employers to help reduce the financial burden through this uncertain time. Click here to access WCB’s response.
CFIB essential service resource
Producers have been asking for a better understanding of what constitutes an essential service and what other provinces have done as province’s have moved toward enforced business closures. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has developed a resource to show what is occurring in all provinces across the country. Click here to access their website.
Fraud alerts
There have been reports of multiple phishing scams related to COVID-19. Many are asking people for credit card information to provide medication following positive test results. This is not a call that Manitobans would receive from public health officials. Manitobans are advised not to provide any financial data, hang up on the caller and to report the call to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at (toll-free) 1-888-495-8501. The federal government is also reporting phishing scams related to the new Canadian Emergency Response Benefit. Please exercise extreme caution with email and phone at this time.
Health-related information
COVID-19 pandemic
We will be sending out a daily COVID-19 update during this time to ensure that Manitoba farmers have up to date information on the spread and scope of the pandemic. Our regular KAP Alert will continue to be published on Wednesday.
Manitobans are reminded to call Health Links (1-888-315-9257) should you believe you have come into contact with COVID-19. You do not need to be tested if you are not experiencing symptoms. At this time, Manitobans are best served by listening to public health professionals, enacting social distancing protocols, ensuring that handwashing is taking place regularly, and ensuring that adequate supplies are on-hand without hoarding or over purchasing. We will all get through this together.
Pharmacare deductibles and medication information
In recognition of the current challenges, the Manitoba government will defer any increases to the Manitoba Pharmacare deductible that were scheduled to take effect April 1. The deductible will still come into effect on April 1 but will remain at 2019-20 levels throughout 2020-21 to assist Manitobans with supply limits imposed on pharmacies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Manitobans are reminded that pharmacies have been asked to limit individuals to a 30-day supply of medication. All Canadian provinces have taken this step to prevent hoarding and ensure there is a consistent supply of medications.
Mental health during COVID-19
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has put together a useful resource on how to process significant changes to your daily life and how to deal with your mental health during this time. Click here to access those tools and resources. The Farm, Rural, and Northern Support Services Line is available by phone at 1-866-367-3276. Manitobans struggling with anxiety can call the Never Give Up Manitoba support line at 204-925-0040 between the hours of 9am and 9pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on weekends.
Interprovincial travel
Public health officials are strongly advising all Manitobans, including health-care providers, to cancel or postpone any non-essential travel. This includes international travel and travel within Canada. There should be no recreational, tourist or non-essential personal travel. In addition, effective immediately, public health officials are recommending that anyone who returns from travel, either international or domestic, should self-isolate and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days following their return.
Provincial state of emergency
Manitoba is under a province-wide state of emergency. This order limits public gatherings of 50 or more people, including retail businesses, hospitality premises like bars and restaurants, and the closure of all wellness facilities including gyms and fitness centres.
Screening tool
Shared Health’s online screening tool is available and is the recommended first step that Manitobans should take prior to calling Health Links or attempting to visit a doctor’s office. Click here to access the online screening tool.
Testing facilities
A reminder that all testing facilities are to be accessed by referral from Health Links and are not walk-in clinics. The provincial government has announced more rural testing sites will be open in the coming days. Testing facilities at this time are:
| Town |
Facility |
Address |
Hours of Operation |
| Winnipeg |
Access Fort Garry |
135 Plaza Drive |
Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM;
Weekends, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Access Winnipeg West |
280 Booth Drive |
| Access Transcona |
845 Regent Ave West |
| Mount Carmel Clinic |
886 Main Street |
| Thompson |
Thompson Clinic |
Plaza Mall |
Daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Flin Flon |
Channing Auditorium |
2 North Avenue |
| The Pas |
Wescana Inn |
439 Fischer Ave |
| Brandon |
Brandon Regional Health Centre, Nurses' Residence Gym |
150 McTavish Ave E |
Daily 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Selkirk |
Drive-Thru Community Testing Site |
622 Superior Ave |
Daily 9:00AM to 4:00PM |
| Steinbach |
Drive-Thru Community Testing Site |
365 Reimer Ave |
Daily 9:00AM to 3:00PM |
| Winnipeg |
Drive-Thru Community Testing Site |
15 Barnes St. |
Daily 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Winkler |
Drive-Thru Community Testing Site |
600 Park St. |
Daily 9:00AM to 3:00PM |
| Pine Falls |
École Powerview School |
33 Vincent St. |
Daily 9:00AM to 4:00PM |
| Eriksdale |
Eriksdale Wellness Centre |
35 Railway Ave |
Daily 10:00AM to 3:00PM |
Hospital visits
To protect the health of patients, staff and volunteers, visitor access at all Manitoba hospitals has been suspended. Exceptions for compassionate reasons will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis but will adhere to vigilant screening. One visitor per patient may be admitted with the approval of individual facility managers in some departments. For pediatric patients, one parent or guardian will be allowed to visit at a time following screening.
Help Next Door MB
The Manitoba government and North Forge MB have partnered to release Help Next Door MB, a tool to put those in need of assistance with volunteers across the province while adhering to social distancing protocols. The tool allows Manitobans to register to be volunteers or to register need for assistance and needs range of things like needing help to get groceries or pick up medication, computer troubleshooting, or chores around the house. To learn more or to register, click here.
Industry-specific information
On-farm sanitation factsheet
To reduce the spread of COVID-19, we all must implement safety and sanitation protocols in our daily lives, and our farms need protocols as well. As preparations are made for the spring planting season, it is imperative that producers and staff practice appropriate sanitation.
The Manitoba Farm Safety Program and Keystone Agricultural Producers have developed a list of best practices to consider for on-farm sanitation as we approach the spring season. We will continue to update this list as more information becomes available from Manitoba Health and other public health agencies. To view the factsheet, click here.
New job posting service
Careers in Agriculture and Food has waived the fee for the posting service for the duration of the pandemic.
Please, send your advertisements for
1) jobs
2) products, and
3) services
Please, indicate for how many days you want them published. They’ll be posted on CAF’s webpage and social media https://lnkd.in/duyh7Nc, @careeragfood. You can also self-post for free on https://lnkd.in/d3aZgKa. Only ads for our sector please.
Jobs in the agricultural sector
Given that many Canadians have been laid off from their jobs and that there is still some uncertainty as to how the federal government is working to bring seasonal workers into the country, we are encouraging employers in our sector to post jobs on three sites:
We will begin to promote these sites on social media in effort to reach out beyond our industry. Our hope is that we can match job seekers with employers as we approach the busy spring season.
Prescription Safety Eyewear Program
We advise that you call ahead to any optometrists you may seek an appointment with at this time to discuss your appointment status and to discuss safety protocols in place for visits.
Safe Work Manitoba online learning
Safe Work Manitoba has made several online courses available free of charge in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Click here to access those courses. Several Safe Work Manitoba e-learning courses are also available free of charge. Click here to browse the course list.
Elevator office closures and grading disputes
Under the Canada Grains Act, producers have the right to see grain being graded and weighed. Given the extraordinary circumstances, most elevators have closed their offices and have required producers to stay in the truck and on the driveway. Producers should exercise their judgement, and in the event of a grading dispute, should request a 1000-gram sample be retained at time of delivery and submitted to the Canadian Grain Commission. If producers feel they are not being treated fairly, they should contact CGC compliance officer Corey Birch at corey.birch@grainscanada.gc.ca.
Livestock auctions
The Manitoba Livestock Marketing Association has decided that all auction markets in Manitoba will continue to host regular commercial cattle sales. All auction markets will have restricted access to sale barns and live commercial cattle auctions. Access will be restricted to essential persons needed to conduct sales, including staff, order buyers, and livestock inspection personnel. The general public will not be allowed admittance, including consignors or truck drivers. Truckers will be able to pick up their loading instructions at the loading docks after the sale.
Agri-HR toolkit
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) has made their AgriHR toolkit available free of charge for producers. Based on years of research and field testing conducted in Canada and internationally, this toolkit offers everything you need to improve your people-management skills and develop key resources to help you find, retain, and support your employees. Click here to access and use discount code COVID-19 to access the toolkit for free. CAHRC has also created a factsheet on COVID-19. Click here to access their factsheet.
CASA courses free of charge for farmers and producers
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is making two online courses available free of charge to producers. These courses are available for any farm owner, operator, or worker to best prepare new and seasonal workers on the farm. For more information, click here.
District meetings
KAP districts may be interested in holding meetings at this time to discuss issues facing the industry. The KAP office has the capability to host both conference calls and Zoom video meetings. Please contact Patty at patty.rosher@kap.ca should you be interested in scheduling a district meeting.
Updates from organizations
Message from Richardson International
Message from HyLife
Message from Maple Leaf Foods
Message from Simplot
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