‘Unreasonable’ bunkhouse limit still in place on Haldimand-Norfolk farms

Brett Schuyler's relief at having the three-person bunkhouse limit lifted for migrant workers quarantining on Haldimand-Norfolk farms faded with news that the health unit would appeal the decision.

Until that appeal is heard, the rule Schuyler says threatens food security and puts area farmers at a disadvantage will stay in place.

In its decision released Friday, the Health Services Review and Appeal Board said only allowing three migrant workers to isolate together upon arrival, regardless of the size and layout of a given bunkhouse, was an unreasonable" and arbitrary" restriction imposed by chief medical officer of health Dr. Shanker Nesathurai.

During the six-day hearing, Schuyler argued that having stricter rules in Haldimand-Norfolk than those set out by Ottawa and Queen's Park meant local farmers faced delays and extra costs in bringing in offshore workers. Using day labourers from urban areas to fill the gap increased the risk of COVID-19 being brought onto the farm, he added.

The board - represented by vice chair Thomas Kelly - said there was no convincing reason given as to why there is a limit of three migrant farm workers to a bunkhouse."

Requiring health unit staff to approve farmers' self-isolation plans and use their public health expertise to make a determination as to how many migrant farm workers would be allowed ... serves to decrease or limit the risk of transmission to migrant farm workers," the board said.

The health unit said it was disappointed" by the board's ruling and would appeal. Spokesperson Matt Terry said the three-person limit was reasonable and effective at protecting farms from the disastrous effects of a widespread outbreak of COVID-19 during migrant workers' initial self-isolation period. As evidenced by the outbreak which took place during the hearing (at Scotlynn Group in Vittoria), the virus can easily spread among large numbers of workers living in a congregate setting, significantly impacting farming operations."

Terry added that removing the three-person limit will mean more work for health unit inspectors, who will need to evaluate each bunkhouse. Forty of the approximately 100 employees of the health unit are already assigned to the migrant farmworker program.

You can make it as complicated as you want to," Schuyler countered. How do they do it in Oxford County and other places? What they need to do is find ways to make it simple."

Schuyler suspects ego might be motivating the health unit's appeal after a sometimes-acrimonious hearing, set against a breakdown in relations between the health unit and the county's agricultural advisory committee.

He said instead of waiting on another decision from the review board, he would rather be working with the health unit on how to better prevent and manage farm outbreaks.

When's the money going to stop being spent, and when can we just get working together as a community and fix problems?" Schuyler said. Because that hasn't happened, and we're quite a ways into this pandemic."

Although the health unit's appeal will see farms fall further behind on planting, Schuyler said having the bunkhouse limit rescinded and getting more workers in would still make a practical difference.

This can still very much help for harvest," Schuyler said.

Scotlynn outbreak worsens

The health unit announced on Friday that five more Mexican migrant workers at Scotlynn had tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number to 169.

Two workers are in hospital, while the remaining 214 are in self-isolation at the farm or in Brantford hotels.

The health unit tested 100 community members with some connection to the farm, 18 of whom tested positive.

At a news conference last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to do better by migrant workers" in response to several large-scale farm outbreaks, acknowledging the extremely important role" offshore workers play in Canadian agriculture.

And on Friday, the province announced $15 million for farmers to purchase personal protective equipment and modify workplaces to better protect workers. The money - up to $7,500 per farm - can also be used to offset transportation costs and pay for temporary housing for sick workers.

The Ford government touted its investment in farm safety, but the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change said increased farm inspections and legislation mandating physical distancing and safe working conditions is needed to truly protect workers.

The agri-food industry has already received nearly a billion dollars in provincial and federal funds which has failed to prevent outbreaks on farms and migrant worker deaths. More of the same is not enough," said executive director Syed Hussan.

Workplaces with COVID-19 cases must be shut down until worker safety can be guaranteed."

J.P. Antonacci's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows him to report on stories about the regions of Haldimand and Norfolk.