COVID-19 Industry Stakeholder Discussion
Thursday, April 16, 2020
April 17th at 9am: COVID-19 Industry Stakeholder Discussion
Tune in to the COVID-19 Industry Stakeholder Discussion taking place on Friday April 17 and 9am. The goal of the call will be to provide updates on the areas outlined in OMAFRA's chart below and to share any additional challenges your businesses and organizations are facing that have not yet been captured. Please RSVP to the call by responding to this email would be greatly appreciated. nmackellar@gfo.ca
Dial In Information
| Toll free #5 |
855-436-3635 (North America) |
| Dial in # |
647-689-4822 (local or international) |
| Access code |
1607665 |
| Labour and Logistics |
Resources to date |
| 1. New: Essential Services Documentation |
Ontario List of Essential workplaces in response to COVID-19 (April 4, 2020)
Written documentation of essential agriculture services can be provided by:
Agricorp customer call line to get a letter confirming a Farm Business Registration number: 1 (888) 247-4999
OFA Member Relations 1 (800) 668-3276 providing they are proof they are farmer if stopped by OPP: |
| 2. Personal Protective Equipment for Essential Ag Sector |
Public Safety Canada is seeking input from critical infrastructure owners and operators to better understand the scope of potential shortages in Canada through a needs assessment survey on the quantity and types of products/equipment that is required across the essential services and functions in Canada. Questions or concerns: aafc.roundtable-tableronde.aac@canada.ca
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has requested companies to let the Government of Canada know what products or services they have to support Canada's response to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government of Canada needs information about products and services businesses can supply in support of Canada's response to COVID-19. This includes medical products for prevention, like disposable N95 masks, vinyl gloves and hand sanitizer. It also includes different services, such as security, nursing, and food services. The full list is posted on the Calling all suppliers – Help Canada Combat COVID-19 on Buyandsell.gc.ca. Information regarding product specifications is also available. |
| 2. On Farm Protocols if get a positive |
Contact list of Local Public Health offices
CFIA - Guidance to Meat Slaughter and Processing Establishments on Prevention and Response to Suspect and Confirmed COVID-19 Plant
Employees
OFA and CFA links to on-farm protocols:
https://ofa.on.ca/covid-19/
https://www.cfa-fca.ca/resources/resources-on-covid-19/
OFA and CFA weekly farmer survey links:
https://ofa.on.ca/resources/guide-to-operating-your-essential-farm-business-during-covid-19/
http://www.cfa-fca.ca/ or direct CFA weekly survey link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KX63KRZ
On-Farm Crisis Management links:
https://ofa.on.ca/resources/crisis-management-tools-by-farm-life/ |
| 3. Truckers need access to food and rest facilities |
April 2: MOT/MOH/Deputy Premier: In response, we are calling on all business owners to support truck drivers when they are stopping to rest, get gas or use washrooms. https://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2020/04/statement-by-minister-elliott-and-minister-mulroney-on-supporting-the-trucking-industry.html |
| 4. Keep open border movement of goods (Provincial and US) |
Provincial Emergency Operations Centre and Ministry of Transportation Ontario are identifying commercial traffic is not currently impacted, but monitoring any check points at provincial borders. |
| Financial Support |
Who can help? |
| 5. Add “lack of labour” to Agricorp Insured Peril Or Agri Invest and AgriStability coverage options if cannot plant due to illness |
OMAFRA has flagged this sector issue for Farm Finance Branch and Agricorp
Fact Checked – Agricorp adjudication in field
Agricorp is currently working through logistics of how to adjudicate claims in the field. Our approach will have minimal impact on our customers
|
| 6. BRM Tools (National and Provincial to help backstop planting a full crop |
OMAFRA has flagged this sector issue for Farm Finance Branch and Agricorp |
| 7. Ethanol market protection |
MEDJCT is responding to Greenfield Global's submission to the ‘Together Ontario' portal to supply alcohol for sanitizers and disinfectants. Additional procurement opportunities may exist at the federal level as the Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) asked companies to inform the Government of Canada of products or services they have to help Canada's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. |
| 8. Corn market loss from ethanol production declines |
Because of the interconnectedness of the corn market with global supplies and the feed and other industrial use markets, final impact on corn producers would depend on the reaction on the other markets. DDG feed substitutions for hog and chicken farmers is soybean meal, canola meal and in some case corn feed alternatives. |
| Regulatory – other Ministries |
| 9. Pesticide License Extension - Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) |
- Ontario Pesticide Education Program (OPEP) is looking at options to increase online and other alternatives to in-person courses but these will take at minimum a few weeks to put in place, and may rely on farmers and vendors having access to internet.
- MECP has responsibility under the Pesticides Act regarding regulatory changes including the request to extend expiring certificates.
- Sector letters have been sent to MECP with expressed concern for an extension for expiring certificates.
- MECP staff has indicated that a recommendation regarding the certification and licensing requests is working its way through approvals.
|
| 10. Load Restriction Exemptions / Trucking Hour Exemptions Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) |
This sector issue has been raised for cross ministry conversations to MTO to help maintain efficient labour use for trucking essential supplies by carrying full loads though exemptions like Quebec Ministry of Transport. |