Food supply -- LNN

By The Canadian Press

Canada boasts adequate food stocks – but prices may rise while variety decreases

Apr 16, 2020 | 1:17 PM

OTTAWA, ON. – The federal agriculture minister is warning of higher prices and less variety on store shelves as the agriculture industry confronts a wide range of challenges created by COVID-19.

Marie-Claude Bibeau says she’s confident the country has enough food and stopped short of suggesting Canadians start growing war-era “victory gardens” to supplement their own supplies.

But everything from a potential labour shortage on farms to COVID-19 outbreaks among workers at food processing plants will have an impact.

The federal government has announced millions in new spending for farmers this week alone, including 20 million for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency so it can have enough inspectors on hand to carry out its work.

The funds are partially designed to guard against the potential for C-F-I-A inspectors to be stricken with the virus and be unable to work, further slowing down an already struggling supply chain.

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The other labour issue facing the industry is a farm worker shortage. Some 60 thousand temporary foreign workers come to Canada annually to work on farms and in plants but border closures mean fewer are expected this year.

They are also required to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival, and this week, the federal government announced 15 hundred dollars per worker to help employers cover salary payments.