Province provides more cash for greenhouses to buy PPE

June 12, 2020

The province is providing more funding for personal protective equipment for the agri-food industry.

Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman in a news release this morning announced the province was tripling the amount of money available to farmers for health and safety measures from $5 million to $15 million.

The money helps farmers pay for personal protective equipment for labourers and equipment like handwashing stations to protect labourers from COVID-19.

There have been several outbreaks in the greenhouse industry which have mainly affected migrant workers.

In Chatham-Kent, 114 migrant workers tested positive for the virus at Greenhills Produce. Windsor-Essex Public Health opened a migrant worker assessment clinic. Yesterday, 38 people tested positive and in Norfolk at least 168 migrant workers have tested positive for COVID-19.

Officials say the virus spreads mainly in the confined spaces of the bunkhouses where they live.

Annual Thanksgiving tradition, Brigden Fair, postponed to 2021

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The Independent among top newspapers in Canada

September 18, 2024

The Independent The Independent of Petrolia and Central Lambton has won four national awards at the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards. Newspapers of similar circulation size compete against each other and are judged by a panel of industry experts in 27 categories. There were nearly 800 entries this year. The Independent placed second in its division in the prestigious Best All-Around

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‘Opportunity to make some money’ now says wind developer

September 18, 2024

Wind project generate $500,000 a year for Brooke-Alvinston Heather Wright/The Independent Peter Budd says the crunch is on for new power sources and municipal governments have a chance to make some cash. The representative of Venfor Inc – a team of developers and entrepreneurs with decades of experience in the Ontario electricity and natural gas sectors according to a filing

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Petrolia for cash in second round of housing funding

September 16, 2024

Heather Wright/The Independent Petrolia is hoping the second time will be a charm. The town will again apply for the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund. The federal program was announced early in 2024 and early this summer Petrolia and Plympton-Wyoming and Warwick were shut out of funding which would have allowed the municipalities to attract more affordable housing investment in

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Town may recognize Petrolia White Rose Band with plaque

September 16, 2024

Heather Wright/The Independent Norm Sutherland wants Petrolia to honour its musical history. He’s written a letter to town council asking if it will consider erecting a plaque at the new bandshell, built as a legacy project during the town’s 150th anniversary. “Mr. Percie Cox, musical director of the Petrolia White Rose Band and teacher of almost all of the youngsters