Thank you.
At the start of the pandemic, when the border was closed, we were all extremely concerned. We know just how important foreign workers are to food security in Canada.
I worked with my colleague the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and my colleague the Minister of Labour. Together, we really did everything we could to simplify the process. For example, we've made sure to use more electronic files and less paper. Our colleague Soraya Martinez Ferrada has also been a great help in this matter.
We still managed to accommodate 85% of the number of workers we welcomed the previous year. Of course, the pandemic has exacerbated the already existing labour shortage. Under the circumstances, I remain quite satisfied with the work. As you said, UPA Estrie was also relieved.
To ensure the health and protection of Canadians, we have, of course, imposed a mandatory 14-day isolation period for foreign workers. To help producers and employers who had to cover the costs associated with 14 days off work, we put in place a $50-million fund. Actually, it's even a little over $50 million now, as the program was extended when the Quarantine Act requirements were extended. So this is a very important measure.
Another measure that's been taken is $35 million to help agricultural producers put in place certain measures to protect workers, whether it's buying PPE, setting up handwashing stations or adapting housing for their foreign workers.
So we've set up various programs. We did the same for processors.