A controversial local decision regarding migrant farmer workers and bunkhouse restrictions was discussed during a recent Board of Health meeting.
Board of Health members, representatives from the agricultural community and medical officer of health Dr. Shanker Nesathurai discussed potential changes to the local order that limits the number of migrant farm workers self-quarantining in a bunkhouse.
A motion asking Nesathurai to modify the order because it’s threatening food security, causing financial hardship and is not being enforced elsewhere in the province was abandoned after County Solicitor Paula Boutis warned about the potential legal ramifications a move might have.
Dr. Nesathurai says that he understands the challenges farmers face due to the order but says the balancing act is one the public health service must manage.
Another motion was passed that asked Nesathurai to be more open in communication with the Agricultural community, and asked him to review the data to see if enough had changed since his order was enacted to warrant a revision.
A change that Boutis said was a much safer approach.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.