Madam Chair, I worked extensively on the Windsor-Essex outbreak with public health leaders, political leaders, members of Parliament and with the farming community and ensured that we all had one thing first and foremost, which was the protection of lives. It was tragic to see young farm workers die so far away from their homes. More had to be done. In fact, we provided support to farmers for the quarantine time. We ensured that farmers had the necessary financial resources to complete that quarantine for incoming workers.
When it became clear that crowded housing conditions were accelerating the spread, along with interaction with other workers who were COVID-positive, and these workers were yet again becoming infected, we did send in the Red Cross to help support a humanitarian response to a growing crisis. Not only was this a risk to the farm workers, but it was a risk to the entire community of Windsor-Essex. It saw its cases climb exponentially and with a great degree of alarm. In fact, working together, we were able to put out that outbreak.
I think we have all learned a lot about how we can better protect the lives and health of farm workers, who are so far away from home, and the people who live near them.