The mayor of Leamington is once again calling on the provincial and federal governments to do more to support temporary foreign workers in the community.
In light of Windsor Mayor Drew Dilken's notice that the Isolation and Recovery Centre may need to close due to lack of funding, Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald is calling on upper levels of government to fill the gap.
She would like to see a central accommodation site outside of Essex County where incoming temporary foreign workers can complete their 14-day quarantine. MacDonald proposes this would also give the government an opportunity to educate incoming workers on their rights, responsibilities and resources available to them.
In her statement, MacDonald calls on Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ensure funding is in place for an isolation centre in the community as well as for outreach workers and testing facilities.
"We are calling upon the Prime Minister and Premier to do what we locally do not have the authority to do, and address and resource the measures we have outlined to prevent loss of life and tragic COVID-19 impacts on the greater community in all aspects," said MacDonald.
Dilkens has indicated the isolation centre in Windsor will have to close at the end of March if funding does not come through.