By Emily Keller

student jobs

Warkentin joins Conservatives to propose new program to match students with essential food supply jobs

Apr 30, 2020 | 2:34 PM

Chris Warkentin, MP for Grande Prairie-Mackenzie, has joined with fellow Conservative MPs to propose a new program to have students work in essential food supply jobs.

The Conservatives are asking the government to create a new program that will match youth employees and students with jobs in agriculture and the agri-food sector, and propose that it will work like the Canada Summer Jobs program, where the program would cover the minimum wage of the employees, and could be supplemented by an extra stipend paid for by the employer.

“Canadian farmers and producers in our food supply chains are facing a critical shortage of workers, due to COVID-19,” said Warkentin, in a release. “This shortage has the potential to disrupt production and could translate into higher costs at the grocery store for Canadians.”

Some agricultural operations in the Peace are feeling the impacts of COVID-19, as travel bans and flight restrictions have made it hard for them to bring in their temporary foreign workers.

Conservatives say businesses who are looking to add to their existing workforce would be able to apply immediately, and the employers would be required to ensure workplace safety measures are in place for their employees.

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“Conservatives will continue to be part of Team Canada and put forward constructive solutions to improve government policies and programs. We look forward to the government engaging further with the agriculture sector to develop an action plan and ensure that no one falls through the cracks.”