It is easy to lose sight of them, the people who show up for work every day in our food production industry.  They are on the frontlines of Canada’s pandemic response, helping to keep food on our tables.  But they are rarely in the headlines in spite of the essential role they play.

Until now.

The new corona virus is raging through food production facilities in Canada.  They have become huge centres for the outbreak, bigger even than long term care facilities in some provinces.

We are learning that the safety of these people – inspectors, veterinarians and production staff – is being set aside, left in the hands of companies which have failed to protect its employees and others who work in their plants.

The federal government, which oversees this industry, has abandoned these invisible heroes, who have become casualties while companies are permitted to play by their own rules even as the virus spirals out of control in their facilities.