Following the release of the supplementary immigration levels plan today, November 5, Migrant Rights Network is issuing a new statement updating and correcting our statement from November 4, 2025 responding to information released in Budget 2025.

For more information, contact: Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org

TORONTO — Budget 2025 and the accompanying immigration levels plan represent a retreat from Canada’s humanitarian obligations and a doubling down on the scapegoating of migrants for the housing and affordability crises, says Migrant Rights Network.

“By not increasing permanent residency targets, Budget 2025 continues to deny rights and protections to the people who sustain our communities and who are already living and working here,” said Syed Hussan, spokesperson for Migrant Rights Network. “The government is slashing refugee spots by over 10,000, cutting international student numbers in half, and introducing co-pays that will deny refugees basic healthcare—all while keeping migrant workers trapped in conditions the UN has characterized as modern slavery.”

While permanent residency targets remain at 380,000, this represents only a fraction of the 3 million people currently in Canada on temporary permits. The vast majority are excluded from equal rights and protections because they do not have PR, creating a two-tier system that facilitates labour exploitation. Rent inflation went up 4.5% year over year, despite a massive reduction in study permit in 2023 and 2024 – but the federal government continues to cut study permit spots further. 

The new levels plan includes:

• Refugee admissions slashed by over 6,000 spots in 2026 and 4,300 in 2027—on top of 14,000 spots cut last year—even as 122 million people are displaced globally
• New co-pays for refugee healthcare, with federal funding for asylum seeker health services dropping from $598 million to $411 million, and no funding specified beyond 2026
• International student permits cut in half, from 305,000 to 155,000, that continue the cycle of scapegoating.
• Temporary Foreign Worker visas reduced by 22,000, while seasonal agricultural workers—among the most essential and most exploited —remain entirely excluded from pathways to permanent residence.

The federal government has framed these cuts as necessary because “the pace of arrivals exceeded Canada’s capacity to absorb and support newcomers.” This narrative scapegoats migrants for an affordability crisis caused by policy choices, not population.

The economic reality contradicts this framing. Migrants and immigrants pay international tuition rates, rent homes, purchase goods and services, and contribute to tax revenue—even while being excluded from many of the social programs they help fund. Reducing their numbers will contract economic activity and tax revenue at a time when Canada faces a declining and aging population, and labour shortages across critical sectors including healthcare, construction, and food production.

“Slashing immigration numbers won’t make housing more affordable or improve services – and the data from the last year proves this,” Hussan said. “It will shrink our economy, worsen labour shortages, and leave workers even more vulnerable to exploitation. The government has delivered a budget of corporate handouts and military spending rather than addressing the actual drivers of unaffordability.”

Migrant Rights Network is calling for permanent resident status for all people in Canada, which would:

• End the tied work permits that trap workers in exploitative conditions
• Ensure full labour protections and access to services
• Generate sustained economic contributions through secure employment and integration

“There is a clear alternative to this race to the bottom,” Hussan said. “Permanent status for all means equal rights—and equal rights are how you actually stop labour exploitation, strengthen communities, and focus on the real affordability solutions we all need.”

BACKGROUNDER

Refugee Rights and Protections

• The new levels cut over 6,000 refugee spots for 2026 and more than 4,300 in 2027.
  • This is in addition to the 14,000 spots slashed in 2024.
• Canada will now only bring in 13,250 refugees through government assisted programs.
  • There are over 122 million displaced people and refugees in the world today.
• Budget 2025 explicitly signals devastating cuts to refugee healthcare:
  • Adds co-pays for essential medications, dental care, and supplemental health services.
• Healthcare support for asylum seekers drops from $598 million to $411 million next year.
  • No healthcare support for asylum seekers has been announced for the following year.
• Temporary lodging support for asylum seekers has also not been funded past next year.
• In addition to the levels, the government has announced that it will “streamline the transition to PR” of 115,000 Protected Persons in Canada. The government has not defined what it means by streamlining and who will be included, and we await further details to make comments. 

International Students

• The federal government is slashing study permits for new arrivals in half, from 305,000 announced last year to just 155,000 doubling down on scapegoating migrants for the affordability crisis. 
• This reduction is in part a response to fewer international students choosing to come to Canada because of recent policy changes.
• These targets do not apply to international students already in Canada. A student in Canada could apply for another study permit provided they meet the targets for study permits set in 2024 and 2025. 
• International students already in Canada cannot renew their permits if the cap is reached. 
• That cap is separate from what was announced in levels.
• There is now a ban on most international students from having their families join them.
• There are no targets for Postgraduate Work Permits (PGWPs) — which means students in Canada applying for work permits are not part of the levels announcement. However,
  • International students studying at private colleges are no longer eligible for PGWPs upon graduation.
  • International students must graduate from a shortlist of eligible fields of study linked to long-term labour shortages for PGWP eligibility.
    

Permanent Residency

• While the government claims permanent residency numbers are “stable” at 380,000, these numbers are far fewer than the need.
• According to a report tabled in Parliament this morning — there were 3 million individuals who held valid permits to enter or remain in Canada as temporary residents in 2024. Without permanent resident status — each of these migrants face potential abuse and exploitation.
• Canada needs 3 million migrants a year, but is choosing to only grant rights and protections to permanent residents to about a tenth of them. This effectively continues the system of two-tiered rights and protections.
• The government also announced that it will “accelerate the transition” of up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residency in 2026 and 2027. There are no details of what this means or who it applies to, except that this is part of the overall levels and not additional numbers, which means this could simply mean faster processing of applications already in the backlog. 

Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs)

• The levels announced yesterday include 60,000 new temporary foreign work visas to be issued in 2026, and 50,000 in 2027 and again in 2028.
  • This is a reduction of 22,000 of what was announced last year and a clear capitulation to demands from the Conservative Party. 
• However, these targets exclude seasonal workers who enter and leave Canada within the same year. This includes seasonal agricultural workers and fishery workers.
  These groups continue to face some of the worst conditions with no path to equal rights via permanent residency.
• The TFW targets exclude all non-seasonal workers who remain in Canada for longer than one year.This means workers such as those in construction, mushroom picking, chefs, etc. might be unable to renew their permits and be forced to leave Canada.
• Only spouses of workers in managerial jobs are eligible for work permits. Even high-wage workers, such as chefs and truck drivers, will face family separation.
  

International Mobility Program (IMP) Workers

• The IMP is a collection of streams that do not require Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA). This includes work permits issued in accordance with agreements with partner countries,  or work permits issued under economic, family-class or humanitarian public policies, and Post-Graduation Work Permits.
• The target for IMP has been increased by 42,000 from what was announced last year — to 170,000.
• PGWPs are not included under these targets. IRCC treats PGWPs as an extension or change of status, not new arrivals.
• Many of these workers are on permits tied to their spouses, or on humanitarian visas, and some are tied to employers. They will continue to face exploitation and abuse. 
• They will have no real access to rights and protections through permanent residency.

Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest migrant-led coalition of 40 organizations in 8 provinces which are made up of tens of thousands of migrant members including farmworkers, domestic workers, current and former international students, refugees and undocumented people. www.MigrantRights.ca 

Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal – The Migrant Rights Network – Canada’s largest migrant-led coalition – is calling for permanent resident status for temporary foreign workers and inclusive regularization of undocumented workers in the construction worker program proposed by Immigration Minister Marc Miller this morning. 

“The federal government today is acknowledging that migrants are essential to resolving the housing crisis – and not responsible for causing it. This limited and piece-meal regularization of 6,000 people may be a step in the right direction, but we call for the program to be as inclusive as possible, and for the regularization of all undocumented people and permanent resident status for all migrant workers – it just makes humanitarian and economic sense. Migrants must have a seat at the table and recent Conservative-like cuts and changes resulting from migrant scapegoating should be reversed.” — Byron Cruz, Sanctuary Health, Vancouver.

• Minister Miller announced that up to 14,000 temporary foreign workers would be brought into Canada after discussions at a Union-Employer-Federal Government council. He confirmed the Temporary Foreign Worker program has facilitated violation of labour rights and wage suppression. Migrant Rights Network insists the solution is to ensure all of these workers have permanent residency, which is the primary mechanism for individuals to access rights in the country, and that these workers should not be on employer-restricted permits.
• Minister Miller announced that up to 6,000 undocumented construction workers may be able to apply through this permanent residency program. Based on the challenges in the GTA Construction Worker Pilot for Non-Status Workers, Migrant Rights Network insists that this program should: 
  • Include all undocumented construction workers including refused refugee claimants
  • Have minimal requirements to qualify (no job offer letter, language test, or requirement of family ties) 
  • Require residency to be as short as possible, no longer than one year
  • Require work experience to be as short as possible, and no more than one year, and should be based on self-attestation instead of tax and contract documents that non-status people do not have
  • Should be fairly distributed across the country and should not be capped
  • Include migrant organizations in the program design

Available for comment:

• Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, Toronto
• Byron Cruz, 604-315-7725, Sanctuary Health, Vancouver
• Mostafa Henaway, 514-659-0106, Immigrant Workers Centre, Montreal

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Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest migrant-led coalition of 40 organizations in 8 provinces which are made up of tens of thousands of migrant members including farmworkers, domestic workers, current and former international students, refugees and undocumented people.

December 13, 2024

Last week migrant care workers came together in an emotional press conference, demanding immediate action on the government’s delayed promises for permanent residency. Despite the heartbreak, careworkers are bravely speaking up and now we need your help to amplify their voices.

• Watch and share the video: YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Promised Care Worker Program Unimplemented

On June 3, 2024, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced new Caregiver Pilot programs to grant care workers permanent residency on arrival without unfair education and language barriers. This policy change came because migrant care workers with your support have been fighting for decades. Six months later, these programs remain unimplemented, leaving thousands—predominantly women from racialized communities—stuck in precarious jobs, separated from their families, and at risk of becoming undocumented. 

Keep the promise – Landed Status Now! 

• Nora Gonzales, who couldn’t attend her father’s funeral, said:
  “Please, Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Miller, how long do we have to suffer? We have contributed so much to this country’s economy. We need permanent residence now!”
• Teresa Andrade, separated from her spouse and five children, said:
  “The June announcement gave us hope, but six months later, nothing has changed. We are living in fear and desperation.”
• Jhoey Dulaca, a former care worker, emphasized:
  “Caregivers are the backbone of countless families, yet we remain in limbo. This delay has kept us in abusive workplaces and separated from our children.”
• Julie Diesta, a former care worker demanded action: “Our members are hungry, losing their homes, and this delay is affecting their mental health”

Take Action: Share Migrant Care Worker Voices

1. Share Migrant Care Worker Voices: The stories of Nora, Mila, and Teresa deserve to be heard far and wide.
   Share it now: YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
   
2. Sign the Petition: Ensure fairness and equality by guaranteeing permanent resident status for all, including implementing the promised Care Worker program and stop cutting permanent residency.

Care Workers Deserve Justice

As the holidays approach, care workers remind us of the urgency of their demands. As Mila Buton said:

“Christmas is just around the corner. We want answers before then! Permanent residency for care workers must become a reality now!”

Your actions will make a difference. Together, we can win justice for migrant care workers who care for children, sick and the elderly. 

Watch the press conference on CPAC: CLICK HERE

Ottawa, ON (November 25, 2024) – Migrant and refugee leaders, along with housing advocates, gathered this morning at the House of Commons to demand an immediate end to immigration cuts, systemic exploitation, and racist rhetoric. The press conference took place just hours before Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s appearance before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) to discuss Canada’s immigration levels for 2025-2027.

Echoing the call from over 180 civil society organizations, migrant and justice groups called for bold action to address Canada’s deepening housing and affordability crisis, as well as the urgent need for permanent resident status for all migrants rejecting recent immigration changes. 

Drastic and misguided changes to immigration policy over the last 18 months will expel 2.3 million people over the next two years, exacerbating a growing humanitarian crisis. These cuts and an avalanche of restrictions—including new limits on permanent residency, cuts to refugee resettlement, and bans on family reunification—are pushing millions into precarious and potentially undocumented situations.

“This government’s decision to slash immigration and scapegoat migrants for the housing and affordability crises is cruel, unjust, and economically short-sighted,” said Sarom Rho, spokesperson for the Migrant Rights Network. “Migrants are vital to Canada’s communities and economy—we need permanent residency and rights, not cuts and exploitation.”

Speakers called on all political parties at CIMM to: 

• Call on the federal government to reverse its plan to slash immigration and expel 2.3 million migrants.
• Commit to permanent residency for all migrants, including international students, refugees, temporary foreign workers, and undocumented people.
• Address Canada’s systemic failures in housing, healthcare, and labor protections instead of scapegoating migrants.

The recent changes, including the immigration levels announcement, come at a time when migrants are being incorrectly blamed for the housing and affordability crisis. 

Michèle Biss, National Director for the National Right to Housing Network, rejected these ideas, stating “This scapegoating of migrants for the housing crisis demonstrates a lack of genuine commitment to the human right to housing. Experts have told government time and time again that the housing crisis is driven by factors like under-investment in non-market housing (like social, non-profit, and cooperative housing), lack of regulation of investors who treat housing as a commodity rather than a human right, and a severe lack of protections for renters experiencing renovictions, discrimination, unreasonable rent hikes and more.” 

The recent changes will particularly force precarious international students, temporary foreign workers, refugees and undocumented people into situations of greater abuse and violence.  

One of these people is Navjot Salaria, an international student graduate. “Over the years, international students have been vital to Canada’s economy, contributing billions of dollars in tuition fees, housing rent, and other costs. Many of them rely on the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program as a pathway to permanent residency,” said Salaria, a member of the Post-Graduate Work Permit Holders Committee & Naujawan Support Network, a committee and organization of international students and immigrant workers fighting exploitation, such as through their 24/7 encampment protest in Brampton since August 30, 2024. “Yet, as 200,000 PGWP holders face imminent permit expirations in 2024 and 2025, the government’s abrupt policy shifts expose a lack of commitment and stability, leaving these students’ futures in jeopardy.” 

Without permanent resident status, migrants face abuse and exploitation. 

“I came as a migrant farmworker and was physically and verbally mistreated. What me and other migrant workers face is slavery. Now the federal government and the media is saying that we are responsible for the housing crisis. We did not cause the crisis. We live in some of the worst homes, and pay the highest rent. Justin Trudeau called us a tap, to turn off and on, when he likes. But I am standing here to say I am a person. I have feelings. I deserve rights,” said Monieya Jess, an undocumented former migrant farmworker and member of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change. “Now I am undocumented. Without papers, we’re blowing in the wind and can’t hold on to anything. Our families depend on us, but nobody will hire us and it’s hard to survive. PM Trudeau promised regularization of undocumented people – now he needs to deliver it. Without migrants there’s no Canada, we need status.” 

Canada is also slashing its refugee protections. “Behind the numbers slashed from the humanitarian component of the levels today are over 14,000 real people fleeing persecution and seeking safety in Canada or struggling in conflict zones around the world facing violence, starvation, and death. The announcement particularly fails those already here whom we have committed to protect and their family members abroad,” said Diana Gallego, President of the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR), a leading voice for the rights, protection, sponsorship, settlement, and well-being of refugees and migrants, in Canada and globally. “It is not an exaggeration to say that the action taken with the levels cuts will rob children of their futures and destroy families. People will lose their lives.”

Viviana Medina, a community organizer with the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal, reiterated Migrant Rights Network’s demands stating, “The Canadian government is cynically using immigration to create a disposable and vulnerable workforce – convenient to exploit to create economic growth and easy to dispose of during economic slowdowns. We demand that the government stop the implementation of these new immigration cuts for all migrants already in Canada. We demand a comprehensive regularization program and a stop to detentions and deportations, abolition of closed work permits, and permanent resident status for all.”

Background:

The federal government has slashed immigration over the last year and half with multiple policies, including:

Permanent residency

• • Permanent residency has been slashed for 2025 – 2027 limiting opportunities for migrants who are already living and working in Canada to transition to permanent status and increasing their likelihood of becoming undocumented. Particularly low-wage migrants are impacted. Even accepted refugees will be excluded. Questions remain about promised programs such as permanent residency on landing for care workers. 
  • Provincial Programs Abruptly Closed: Programs in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta, and Saskatchewan have been abruptly closed, while New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and PEI have changed rules without warning and spaces in these programs have been cut, leaving hundreds of thousands of migrants in limbo. Many of these programs were the only way through which low-waged workers could apply for permanent residency and this door has been effectively closed for 2025-2027. 
• Regularization of undocumented people delayed: In December 2021, Prime Minister Trudeau promised comprehensive regularization, a promise reiterated by multiple Immigration Ministers until June 2024, when the Immigration Minister abruptly about-turned despite proclaiming massive economic and humanitarian benefits of regularization. Minister Miller has since promised a smaller, undefined program that has not been announced. 

International students and graduated students

• No Renewals for Expiring PGWPs: Over 200,000 PGWPs are set to expire by end of 2025, leaving many stranded in Canada, some of whom have already applied for permanent residency, with no other options to stay. Many are being forced to choose between being uprooted and becoming undocumented.
• Ban on Family Reunification: Spouses of undergraduate and college students can no longer receive work permits, and spouses and children of graduate students in programs shorter than 16 months are also barred from being in Canada as of Fall 2024. 
• Study Permit Caps: The government capped study permits for undergraduate and college programs in 2024, with caps on graduate students coming in 2025. Even international students already in Canada will be barred from renewing their permits if the cap is reached.
• Higher Proof of Funds: Since January 2024, international students must show more financial resources—$20,635 per person plus tuition, up from $10,000. These increased requirements effectively shut out lower-income students.
• Work Hour Restrictions: As of November 2024, international students are limited to 24 off-campus work hours. These limits force those needing more income into undocumented work, increasing their risk of exploitation and wage theft.
• Restrictions on PGWP Eligibility: Graduates of private colleges and college students in fields not aligned with specific industries are no longer eligible for PGWPs, which are crucial for those wishing to work and settle permanently in Canada.  This restriction does not apply to bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree holders.

Temporary foreign workers

• Cuts to Family Work Permits: Only spouses of workers in managerial jobs will be eligible for work permits. Even high-wage workers, such as chefs and truck drivers, will face family separation. A promised expansion of work permits for family members of low-wage workers has been cancelled, disproportionately affecting women.
• Shorter Work Permits: Low-wage work permits (except for primary agriculture) will be limited to one year. Migrants will be forced to pay high fees to renew their work permits annually.
• No LMIAs in High Unemployment Areas: Starting September 26, 2024, Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will not be issued in areas with over 6% unemployment, except for certain jobs in caregiving, agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, and education. Those already in Canada will be unable to renew their permits.
• Cap on Low-Wage LMIA Positions: Starting September 26, 2024, employers cannot hire more than 10% of their workforce through low-wage LMIAs, except in some industries like farming – one of the sectors with the most rampant labour violations – and caregiving. Those already in Canada will also be unable to renew their permits.
• End to Work Permits for Visitors: As of August 28, 2024, visitors can no longer transition to temporary work permits without leaving Canada, an option that many relied on to maintain status and income during long government delays in processing applications.

Refugees

• Increased Visa Rejections and Border Refusals: Reports indicate a surge in rejected visitor visa applications, with a higher ratio of refusals compared to approvals this year. Border officers are also turning away an average of 3,727 foreign travelers each month, many of whom may be potential refugees for whom the government has eliminated other options.
• 14,000 places slashed from the humanitarian component of immigration levels: These cuts impact real people fleeing persecution and seeking safety in Canada or struggling in conflict zones around the world facing violence, starvation, and death. The cuts in the humanitarian component particularly fails those already here whom we have committed to protect and their family members abroad, all but ensuring families will remain separated for many years to come.

###

MEDIA CONTACT (EN/FR): Karen Cocq, karen@migrantworkersalliance.org, 647-970-8464

Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest coalition of migrant-led organizations advocating for immigrant and worker justice. For more information, visit www.migrantrights.ca.

Date: Monday, November 25, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM EST
Location: Room 135-B, West Block, House of Commons, Ottawa

What:
Migrant and refugee leaders and housing advocates from across Canada will hold a press conference to demand an end to immigration cuts, systemic exploitation, and racist rhetoric. This media event is taking place in advance of Immigration Miller’s presentation to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on Canada’s 2025-2027 immigration levels later that day. The press conference will highlight the devastating impacts of recent federal immigration changes and call for real solutions to Canada’s housing and affordability crisis, and permanent resident status for all.

Why:
Migrants in Canada face abuse because of lack of permanent residency. Recent federal immigration changes, including drastic cuts to permanent residency, new restrictions on international students and temporary foreign workers, and harsh rules targeting refugees, have exacerbated a humanitarian crisis. These changes will push 2.3 million people out of Canada in the next two years, force millions more into more precarious conditions, and fuel exploitation and family separation. These changes are happening because the government is trying to shore up support by scapegoating migrants for Canada’s affordability crisis. 

Speakers will ask all parties at the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM), which will receive Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for consideration to:

• Call on the federal government to reverse its plan to slash immigration and expel 2.3 million migrants.
• Commit to permanent residency for all migrants, including international students, refugees, temporary foreign workers, and undocumented people.
• Address Canada’s systemic failures in housing, healthcare, and labor protections instead of scapegoating migrants.

Speakers:

• Diana Gallego, President, Canadian Council for Refugees
• Michèle Biss, National Director, National Right to Housing Network
• Monieya Jess, Undocumented former migrant farmworker, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change
• Novjot Salaria, International Student Graduate, Post-Graduate Work Permit Holders Committee & Naujawan Support Network
• Sarom Rho, Spokesperson, Migrant Rights Network
• Organizer, Immigrant Workers Centre

Background:

The federal government has slashed immigration over the last year and half with multiple policies, including:

Permanent residency

• Permanent residency has been slashed for 2025 – 2027 limiting opportunities for migrants who are already living and working in Canada to transition to permanent status and increasing their likelihood of becoming undocumented. Particularly low-wage migrants are impacted. Even accepted refugees will be excluded, and many will remain separated from their spouse and children for years. Questions remain about promised programs such as permanent residency on landing for care workers.
• Provincial Programs Abruptly Closed: Programs in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta, and Saskatchewan have been abruptly closed, while New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and PEI have changed rules without warning and spaces in these programs have been cut, leaving hundreds of thousands of migrants in limbo. Many of these programs were the only way through which low-waged workers could apply for permanent residency and this door has been effectively closed for 2025-2027. 
• Regularization of undocumented people delayed: In December 2021, Prime Minister Trudeau promised comprehensive regularization, a promise reiterated by multiple Immigration Ministers until June 2024, when the Immigration Minister abruptly about-turned despite proclaiming massive economic and humanitarian benefits of regularization. Minister Miller has since promised a smaller, undefined program that has not been announced. 

International students and graduated students

• No Renewals for Expiring PGWPs: Over 200,000 PGWPs are set to expire by end of 2025, leaving many stranded in Canada, some of whom have already applied for permanent residency, with no other options to stay. Many are being forced to choose between being uprooted and becoming undocumented.
• Ban on Family Reunification: Spouses of undergraduate and college students can no longer receive work permits, and spouses and children of graduate students in programs shorter than 16 months are also barred from being in Canada as of Fall 2024. 
• Study Permit Caps: The government capped study permits for undergraduate and college programs in 2024, with caps on graduate students coming in 2025. Even international students already in Canada will be barred from renewing their permits if the cap is reached.
• Higher Proof of Funds: Since January 2024, international students must show more financial resources—$20,635 per person plus tuition, up from $10,000. These increased requirements effectively shut out lower-income students.
• Work Hour Restrictions: As of November 2024, international students are limited to 24 off-campus work hours. These limits force those needing more income into undocumented work, increasing their risk of exploitation and wage theft.
• Restrictions on PGWP Eligibility: Graduates of private colleges and college students in fields not aligned with specific industries are no longer eligible for PGWPs, which are crucial for those wishing to work and settle permanently in Canada.  This restriction does not apply to bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree holders.

Temporary foreign workers

• Cuts to Family Work Permits: Only spouses of workers in managerial jobs will be eligible for work permits. Even high-wage workers, such as chefs and truck drivers, will face family separation. A promised expansion of work permits for family members of low-wage workers has been cancelled, disproportionately affecting women.
• Shorter Work Permits: Low-wage work permits (except for primary agriculture) will be limited to one year. Migrants will be forced to pay high fees to renew their work permits annually.
• No LMIAs in High Unemployment Areas: Starting September 26, 2024, Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will not be issued in areas with over 6% unemployment, except for certain jobs in caregiving, agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, and education. Those already in Canada will be unable to renew their permits.
• Cap on Low-Wage LMIA Positions: Starting September 26, 2024, employers cannot hire more than 10% of their workforce through low-wage LMIAs, except in some industries like farming – one of the sectors with the most rampant labour violations – and caregiving. Those already in Canada will also be unable to renew their permits.
• End to Work Permits for Visitors: As of August 28, 2024, visitors can no longer transition to temporary work permits without leaving Canada, an option that many relied on to maintain status and income during long government delays in processing applications.

Refugees

• Increased Visa Rejections and Border Refusals: Reports indicate a surge in rejected visitor visa applications, with a higher ratio of refusals compared to approvals this year. Border officers are also turning away an average of 3,727 foreign travelers each month, many of whom may be potential refugees for whom the government has eliminated other options.
• 14,000 places slashed from the humanitarian component of immigration levels: These cuts impact real people fleeing persecution and seeking safety in Canada or struggling in conflict zones around the world facing violence, starvation, and death. The cuts in the humanitarian component particularly fails those already here whom we have committed to protect and their family members abroad, all but ensuring families will remain separated for many years to come.

###

MEDIA CONTACT (EN/FR): Karen Cocq, karen@migrantworkersalliance.org, 647-970-8464

Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest coalition of migrant-led organizations taking action for immigrant and worker justice: www.migrantrights.ca 

Media Release
Migrant Rights Network

Nov 18, 2024

Toronto, November 18, 2024 – In a video uploaded Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attempted to justify his government’s Conservative-like plan to force 2.3 million migrants out of Canada in the next two years. His statements, which frame migrants as disposable and blame them for systemic crises, perpetuate harmful myths and deflect from policy failures. The Migrant Rights Network strongly condemns this rhetoric, which obscures the vital role migrants play in building Canada’s economy and communities, and calls for permanent residency status for all migrants to protect their rights.

“Trudeau’s comments are a slap in the face to the millions of immigrants who have built Canada’s economy and care for our communities and who have had the rules suddenly changed on them after they have built lives here. This is not water from a ‘tap’ as Trudeau says – we are human beings, and blaming us for crises caused by the federal and provincial government’s failures is disgraceful. Immigrants are not at fault for bad housing policy or economic mismanagement who can simply be uprooted and thrown out when it’s politically convenient. We need permanent resident status for all migrants and real solutions to the crisis of affordability that is impacting migrants and citizens alike.” – Syed Hussan, spokesperson, Migrant Rights Network. 

Migrants Are Not Disposable

The Prime Minister said about immigrants:

• “We could have acted quicker and turned off the taps faster.”

Immigrants and migrants are not “taps” to be turned on and off—we are people with rights, families, dreams, and potential who were promised equal rights and fairness but have been exploited and abused. Canada is not “lowering its population” – it’s uprooting millions of people who have built a life here. This dehumanizing, disrespectful and undignified framing of our families and communities is xenophobic.

Misrepresenting Migrants’ Contributions

Prime Minister Trudeau claimed:

• “The number of temporary students and workers that we admitted each year was left to the demands of the economy. It was usually a small portion of our population.”

This misrepresents reality. Temporary residents have outpaced permanent residents since 2008. This has been an intentional shift to a system that reduces people’s rights. International students alone contribute over $22 billion annually, more than Canada’s auto parts or lumber exports, while supporting over 200,000 jobs. Migrants fill critical roles in healthcare, agriculture, and technology, forming the backbone of many sectors. They are not and have not been a “small portion” but have been integral to the economic choices made by successive Conservative and Liberal governments – provincially and federally -for decades prior to the pandemic. 

Scapegoating Migrants for Housing & Affordability Crises

The Prime Minister stated:

• “Our cap on international students is already bringing rental prices down in big cities.”
• “This pause is going to give our economies and communities a chance to catch up.”
• “Fulfilling that dream [of coming to Canada] depends on having a good job, a decent place to live, and healthcare that you can access when you need it. We have to make sure our population doesn’t get ahead of those things.” 

International students and temporary foreign workers do not set rental prices or control housing supply. This is done by corporate landlords who renovict and demovict, provincial governments who eliminate rent control and don’t invest in public housing, and a speculative housing market that makes buying a home impossible for most. 

Migrants aren’t taking from the economy – they are adding to it. Temporary foreign workers and international students contribute billions of dollars annually to Canada’s social welfare system and take nothing back – they are underwriting public services for the rest of us. 

The recent changes do not ensure good jobs, a decent home or healthcare for migrants but will force them deeper into abuse. 

Recent Changes Do Not Protect Migrants From “Bad Actors”

The Prime Minister said:

• “Far too many colleges and universities used international students to raise their bottom line because they could charge these students tens of thousands of dollars more for the same degree.”
• “There are really bad actors who outright exploit people, who target vulnerable immigrants with promises of jobs, diplomas, and easy pathways to citizenship.”

The government is acknowledging exploitation but blaming those being exploited.  High tuition fees, restrictive employer-dependent work permits, and lack of access to permanent residency are federal and provincial policy choices that allow unfair treatment and have been left untouched by these recent changes.  These announcements  will result in 2.3 million permits expiring in the next two years which will worsen exploitation by making millions of people desperate and more susceptible to being preyed upon. 

Stereotypes About Asylum Seekers Are Dangerous

Trudeau also claimed:

• “Some temporary residents may turn to our asylum system when their visas expire as a shortcut to stay in Canada.”

This statement fuels dangerous stereotypes about migrants and asylum seekers. Seeking safety, stability, or opportunities is not a “shortcut”; it is a fundamental human right, enshrined in international and Canadian law. It is Canada’s own immigration system that pushes migrants into undocumented or precarious statuses. The government must address these failures instead of maligning those seeking a better life.

What the Prime Minister Needs To Do: 

The Migrant Rights Network calls on the federal government to:

1. End scapegoating of migrants and acknowledge their critical contributions to Canada.
2. Protect migrants already in Canada from all recent immigration cuts, abolish closed work permits and guarantee permanent resident status for all in order to ensure protection from exploitation. 
3. Invest in housing, healthcare, and infrastructure and reign in corporate interests profiting from basic needs in order to address systemic issues affecting all residents.

Prime Minister Trudeau’s remarks do not reflect the values of fairness and inclusion that everyone in Canada – citizens and migrants alike – expect. Canada’s success as a free and fair democratic society depends on welcoming and supporting migrants and immigrants, not vilifying them.

Contact:
Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org

Media Release
Migrant Rights Network

Oct 24, 2024

Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, October 24, 2024 – The Trudeau government continues to scapegoat migrants for the housing and affordability crisis, focusing on numbers of migrants instead of their rights and breaking its commitments to immigration. New permanent residents will be reduced to 365,000 by 2027, adjusting for the increases that responded to short-falls from border closures in 2020 (see background section below). For the first time, temporary immigration level targets are also being set. This announcement today by Prime Minister Trudeau glaringly did not include a single word about the rights and protections migrants need.

Syed Hussan, spokesperson for the Migrant Rights Network, expressed outrage at this announcement, stating: “We are witnessing a disgraceful assault on migrant rights in Canada as this government continues to scapegoat migrants for the housing and affordability crisis. The Liberals, desperate to claw back their sinking poll numbers, had already slashed over 775,000 study and work permits and now are further pandering to racism and xenophobia with these announcements. These Conservative-like policies are a gut-wrenching betrayal of their commitments to migrants, undocumented people, refugees and Canadians alike.”

“The government must abandon this dangerous path of using immigrants for political football, focus on rights instead of just numbers, and end the exploitation and abuse of migrants by ensuring permanent resident status for all.”

“The government’s decision to cut permanent resident levels is a shameful capitulation to rising anti-immigrant sentiment in a desperate bid to regain political favor.  These changes will force migrants into temporary or undocumented status, where they will be vulnerable to even greater exploitation and abuse and yet Minister Miller today announced a regularization program with only 50 spots in 2025!” Hussan continued. “Families will be torn apart, the financial burden on our communities will skyrocket, and the Canadian economy will contract. These policies not only fuel dangerous, racist scapegoating, but they will inevitably lead to more violence against marginalized communities.”

In a powerful open letter sent this morning to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, major organizations—including National Right to Housing Network, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, Unifor, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Oxfam, Climate Action Network, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec, Greenpeace, and National Union of Public and General Employees—warned the government that slashing permanent immigration will force more migrants into temporary and precarious situations, further entrenching their exploitation and worsening conditions for all workers. The letter, signed by nearly every major civil society group in Canada, shows that there is a unified consensus in Canada to expand, not reduce, permanent residency programs, abolish closed work permits and ensure regularization. Read the letter here.

While the Prime Minister focuses on the numbers of migrants and immigrants, he has abandoned his promises to improve rights and protections for these essential workers who pay into the social welfare system without accessing any of the rights. In fact, just today, the parliamentary Finance Standing Committee recommended ending tied work permits and establishing permanent residency for temporary migrants.

Hussan also highlighted the deep injustice of blaming migrants for Canada’s housing and affordability crisis: “The population grew by just 3.9% over two years, yet rents exploded by 20% – it is clear that migrants are not the cause. Instead of addressing corporate profiteering and systemic failures, this government is shamefully deflecting blame onto migrants. This is not just dishonest—it’s deeply harmful and reckless.”

The Migrant Rights Network and its allies are calling on the federal government to immediately reverse this decision and chart a new course that grants equal rights for all migrants. This includes ensuring permanent resident status for everyone, expanding protections for workers, and upholding human rights for all.

Background

Interviews are available with housing and immigration experts and migrants and immigrants across Canada. 

• Syed Hussan. Spokesperson, Migrant Rights Network. 416-453-3632. hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org.
• Mostafa Henaway. Immigrant Workers Centre, Quebec. 514-659-0106
• Byron Cruz. Sanctuary Health, BC. 604-315-7725.
• Stacey Gomez. Centre for Migrant Worker Rights, Nova Scotia. 902-329-9595.

MEDIA ADVISORY
Migrant Rights Network

Migrants Demand Equal Rights on Eve of Parliament’s Return

Cities Across Canada Unite to Demand Permanent Residency for All Migrants and an End to Racist Scapegoating

On the eve of Parliament’s return, massive, colourful actions will take place in eight cities across Canada, demanding equal rights and permanent resident status for all migrants and rejecting the racist scapegoating of migrants for the housing, healthcare, and affordability crises. Coordinated by Migrant Rights Network, the rallies, marches and protests are scheduled from September 12-15.

Without permanent resident status, migrants—including refugees, temporary foreign workers, current and former international students, and undocumented people—face mistreatment at work, exploitation by landlords, separation from their families, and are denied rights and protections afforded to others in Canada. Increasing anti-migrant sentiment is resulting in increased hate-motivated attacks and abuses. 

Prime Minister Trudeau promised to ensure permanent resident status and regularization for migrants. Instead of ensuring rights for migrants, Canada has capped study permits, barred most study permit holders from bringing their families, limited permanent residency, slashed work permits, refused to renew permits for graduated international students, imposed visas on Mexico, and increased visa denials.

Provincial governments responsible for housing, jobs, wages, education, and healthcare have joined in on the scapegoating of migrants to distract from their own policy failures. Many have also slashed or attempted to reduce refugee entries and have cut down on permanent residency approvals through provincial nominee programs.

WHAT: Cross-country actions against racism and for immigrant justice
WHEN: September 12-15, 2024
WHO: Migrant Rights Network and community organizations across Canada
WHY: To demand equal rights, permanent resident status for all migrants, and to reject racist scapegoating in the housing, healthcare, and affordability crises.
VISUALS: Hundreds of people in rallies, meetings or marches with massive banners, community members, hand-painted signs and flags of national and local organizations.  

Event Details:

• September 12, 2024
  • CHARLOTTETOWN: 5:00 PM, Boulder Park (Grafton St)
    Media contact: Ryan MacRae, 902-916-6510, Cooper Institute
    
• September 14, 2024
  • EDMONTON: 1:00 PM, Federal Building
    Media contact: Marco Luciano, 780-966-5908, Migrante Alberta
  • PETERBOROUGH: 12:00 PM, Constituency office of Michelle Ferreri
    Media contact: Peter Votsch, 416-891-8601
  • SUDBURY: 1:00 PM, Afro Women and Youth Foundation Community Centre
    Media contact: Scott Florence, 705-470-3323, Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Centre
  • VANCOUVER: 1:00 PM, Grandview Park
    Media contact:  Roxana Sonora, 236-880-9205, Migrant Workers’ Centre
    
• September 15, 2024
  • MONCTON: 2:00 PM, Riverfront Park
    Media contact: Niger Saravia, 506-251-7467, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change
  • OTTAWA: 2:00 PM, Human Rights Monument
    Media contact: Karen Cocq, 647-970-8464, Migrant Rights Network
  • TORONTO: 1:00 PM, City Hall
    Media contact: Fatima Hussain, 647-773-2068, Migrant Rights Network – Ontario

Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest migrant-led coalition, comprising nearly 40 organizations in 8 provinces. Formed in Decemebr 2018, Migrant Rights Network is the only cross-country body that brings together self-organized migrants to unite for immigration and worker justice.

Contact for cross-Canada inquiries: Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org

Regularization and Permanent Resident Status for Care Workers in Canada Urgently Needed

Toronto, Vancouver, June 3, 2024 — Migrant Care Workers across Canada welcome changes to the caregiver program announced today that meets key demands from migrant care workers including: 

• Migrant caregivers will get permanent resident (PR) status on arrival – a critical demand of the migrant workers movement since 1979. Having PR will mean care workers can better protect themselves from abuse and exploitation. This change can serve as a template for permanent resident status on arrival for all temporary foreign workers. 
• Education requirements will be lowered from Canadian equivalency of 1 year post-secondary education in current pilots to high school equivalency.
• Attain a level 4 based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks, down from Level 5 in the current pilots.

Minister Miller announced that the reduced requirements for education and language requirements will be applied to care workers currently in Canada. This is critical as thousands of care workers have been left in limbo due to these barriers under the old program. But many care workers are still left out. 

Today’s announcement leaves out undocumented migrant care workers in Canada. All migrant caregivers in Canada who are undocumented due to failures of the programs must be regularized. 

See Migrant Rights Network submissions and care worker priorities

Questions remain about the new program such as criteria for job offers and the expansion of home care work to organizations. Care workers must be part of planning how the new pilot program will be finalized and launched.

Teresa Gutierrez is a migrant caregiver who has been in Canada for six years, but was denied permanent residency because of unfair education requirements, which have been reduced today. She met with Minister Marc Miller at a roundtable today and said, “Today you listened to caregivers like us who fought for changes to language and education requirements – and you’ve improved the program. But it’s too late for me. Soon I will be undocumented.  So I am here to remind you. You promised regularization this Spring. It’s June, and time is running out. I am reminding you to hear us, and give us regularization. I worked here in Canada for almost 6 years to take care of children. I left behind my own 5 kids just to let them have a better future. I know you’re a parent too. Do you know how hard it is for us parents to see our children growing without us? I am not the only one. There are hundreds of thousands of us in the same situation. And you have the power to fix this. We are demanding a regularization that will make a way to be reunited with my family, to have a better job, and have the same rights as everybody else. Thousands across the country are watching to see what you will do. Will you deliver on your promise? Will you fight for and defend regularization?”

Jhoey Dulaca of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, agrees, saying “We are welcoming and celebrating the news of permanent resident status on arrival as well as the lowering of educational and language requirements. Many thousands of caregivers have faced abuse and exploitation, and have been in limbo or have become undocumented over the last five years – Canada must now move urgently to implement a regularization program for undocumented caregivers to ensure no one is left behind.” 

Cenen Bagon, from Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers & Caregivers Rights, adds “Resilient foreign domestic workers, caregivers, and their long-time advocates have fought hard for recognition in Canada: if they are good enough to work, they are good enough to stay with permanent resident status upon arrival. Although the work is not over, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and IRCC Minister Marc Miller have come one step closer to hearing these decades-long calls for justice through these new pilots. We need regularization right now to ensure everyone is protected.”

Today’s changes are a long-time coming. In 2019, the federal government created a 5 year pilot, keeping most of the policy failures of the program created by the previous Conservative government in 2014, including increased education and language requirements. As a result, thousands of caregivers have been unable to gain permanent residency, either moving from one employer to another on tied work permits facing abuse, or becoming undocumented. 

###

For interviews with care workers

• TORONTO: Jhoey Dulaca, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change – 416-897-4388
• VANCOUVER: Cenen Bagon, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights – 604-805-0384
• For background information and to receive updated press release after the full announcement today: info@migrantrights.ca 

Further Background

• Migrant Rights Network & Supporters Open Letter: Migrant healthcare and childcare workers deserve rights and permanent resident status (April 10, 2024)
• Migrant Workers Alliance for Change: Trudeau urged to uphold gender justice and ensure permanent resident status for all as thousands of migrant women face exclusion and deportation (March 8, 2024)
• Toronto Star: She’s been in Canada for a decade, but still can’t get permanent residence. Is Canada failing caregivers like her (March 8, 2024)

Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest migrant-led coalition of 40 organizations in 8 provinces which are made up of tens of thousands of migrant members including farmworkers, domestic workers, current and former international students, refugees and undocumented people. The Landed Status Now Working Group is composed of all the migrant care worker-led organizations in Canada including Caregiver Connections Education and Support Organization, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights, Migrante Canada and Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

Landed Status Now Working Group, Migrant Rights Network
Media Advisory

New Migrant Care Worker Program Announced

Toronto, Vancouver, June 3, 2024 — Migrant Care Workers across Canada are welcoming news of changes to the caregiver program set to be announced today at 4:45pm EST, which appeared, in part, in today’s Globe and Mail. 

“While we look forward to responding to all the requirements once they are made known to make sure that care workers in Canada are protected, we are welcoming and celebrating the news of permanent resident status on arrival as well as the lowering of educational requirements. Many thousands of caregivers have faced abuse and exploitation, and have been in limbo or have become undocumented over the last five years – Canada must now move urgently to implement a regularization program for undocumented caregivers to ensure no one is left behind.” 

– Jhoey Dulaca, Care Worker organizer, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

According to reports today:

• A new program will be created which will grant permanent resident status on arrival to migrant caregivers – a critical demand of the migrant workers movement since 1979. This change can serve as a template for permanent resident status on arrival for all migrant workers. 
• Education requirements will be lowered from Canadian equivalency of 1 year post-secondary education to high school equivalency also in response to migrant care worker organizing. 

In addition to these two demands, the Landed Status Now Working Group of the Migrant Rights Network will be looking to see if the following have been addressed:

• Removal of unfair language testing requirements 
• Permanent resident status for all care workers on work permits in Canada without caps or exclusions
• Regularization – permanent resident status for all undocumented care workers in Canada.
• Expedited processing of permanent residency applications of caregivers in the backlog. 

See full care workers list of demands here.

Today’s changes are a long-time coming. In 2019, the federal government created a 5 year pilot, keeping most of the policy failures of the program created by the previous Conservative government in 2014, including increased education and language requirements. As a result, thousands of caregivers have been unable to gain permanent residency, either moving from one employer to another on tied work permits facing abuse, or becoming undocumented. 

###

For interviews with care workers

• TORONTO: Jhoey Cruz, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change – 416-897-4388
• VANCOUVER: Cenen Bagon, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregiver Rights – 604-805-0384
• For background information and to receive updated press release after the full announcement today: info@migrantrights.ca 

Further Background

• Migrant Rights Network & Supporters Open Letter: Migrant healthcare and childcare workers deserve rights and permanent resident status (April 10, 2024)
• Migrant Workers Alliance for Change: Trudeau urged to uphold gender justice and ensure permanent resident status for all as thousands of migrant women face exclusion and deportation (March 8, 2024)
• Toronto Star: She’s been in Canada for a decade, but still can’t get permanent residence. Is Canada failing caregivers like her (March 8, 2024)

Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest migrant-led coalition of 40 organizations in 8 provinces which are made up of tens of thousands of migrant members including farmworkers, domestic workers, current and former international students, refugees and undocumented people. The Landed Status Now Working Group is composed of all the migrant care worker-led organizations in Canada including Caregiver Connections Education and Support Organization, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregiver Rights, Migrante Canada and Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

English

Avis aux médias
Réseau des droits des migrants

Une vaste coalition nationale fait pression en faveur de la régularisation à l’approche de la décision du Cabinet ministériel

Ottawa – Certaines des plus grandes organisations au Canada de travailleuses et travailleurs, de croyant-e-s, de défense des droits des femmes, des personnes migrantes et du logement social – représentant plus de 500 organisations – s’unissent sur la Colline du Parlement pour encourager le gouvernement Trudeau à respecter son engagement en matière de régularisation. Cette politique cruciale, car elle permet aux personnes sans papiers d’obtenir la résidence permanente, aura des retombées économiques et sociales durables et doit être discutée en conseil des ministres au cours des deux prochaines semaines.

Détails de l’événement:

OÙ : Salle 135-B, Édifice de l’Ouest, Chambre des communes 
QUAND : 9h30 EST, lundi 27 mai 2024
QUI : 

• Jane Kirabira, lesbienne ougandaise sans papiers
• Siobhán Vipond, Vice-président exécutif du Congrès du travail du Canada
• Frédérique Chabot, directrice générale, Action Canada pour la santé et les droits sexuels
• Emily Dwyer, Église unie du Canada
• Michele Biss, Directrice nationale, Réseau national pour le droit au logement
• Syed Hussan, Réseau des droits des migrants
• Cheolki Yoon, Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants (CTTI)
  

Pourquoi la régularisation est importante : 

• Impact économique : Elle ajoutera au moins 28 milliards de dollars à l’économie chaque année et augmentera les cotisations à l’assurance-emploi et au RPC de 5,6 milliards de dollars par an.
• Protections : Elle permet aux travailleurs, aux femmes, aux homosexuels, aux transgenres et aux communautés marginalisées de se protéger contre les abus, les harcèlements et la violence auxquels les personnes sans statut migratoire sont exposées.
• Précédent au niveau mondial : 24 des 27 États membres de l’UE ont mis en œuvre des programmes de régularisation, dont bénéficient environ 6 millions de personnes sans papiers.
• Droits humains : Les personnes sans papiers vivent et travaillent déjà au Canada, mais sont confrontées à l’exploitation et à l’exclusion. Leur octroyer la résidence permanente est le mécanisme qui leur permet d’accéder aux droits civils, politiques et sociaux, et à l’égalité.
• Test décisif et legs : Il s’agit du test qui permettra de juger des engagements pro-immigrants, pro-LGBTQ2I et féministes de Justin Trudeau; c’est aussi un investissement dans les générations à venir.
• Soutien massif : Plus de 500 organismes, dont la plupart des grandes organisations syndicales, environnementales, juridiques, sanitaires, climatiques, féministes et religieuses du Canada, soutiennent la régularisation. 
• Promesse historique : Le Premier ministre Trudeau a promis la régularisation en décembre 2021.

###

Migrant Rights Network est la plus grande coalition dirigée par des personnes migrantes et immigrantes au Canada. Nous faisons en sorte que les personnes qui n’ont pas le statut de résident permanent – les travailleuses et travailleurs migrants, les étudiantes et étudiants étrangers, les personnes sans-papiers ou réfugiées et leurs familles – puissent exercer leur leadership. Les organisations membres de Migrant Rights Network se sont engagées depuis longtemps à obtenir la régularisation et sont à la pointe des actions d’organisation pour la justice en matière d’immigration depuis plus de 20 ans.

Liaison avec les médias (EN/FR) : Karen Cocq, karen@migrantworkersalliance.org, 647-970-8464

Seuls les membres de la tribune parlementaire peuvent participer à la période de questions et réponses, qui aura lieu sur place et via Zoom. Les médias qui ne sont pas membres de la tribune parlementaire peuvent communiquer avec pressres2@parl.gc.ca pour obtenir l’accès temporaire.

Français

Media Advisory
Migrant Rights Network

Broad National Coalition Pushes for Regularization as Cabinet Decision Looms

Ottawa — Some of Canada’s largest labour, faith, women’s rights, housing, and migrant groups – representing over 500 organizations – are uniting on Parliament Hill to encourage the Trudeau government to fulfill its commitment to regularization. This critical policy, which provides permanent resident status for undocumented people, will have lasting economic and social benefits and is set to be discussed in Cabinet in the next two weeks.

Event Details
WHERE: Room 135-B, West Block, House of Commons 
WHEN: 9:30am EST, Monday, May 27, 2024
WHO: 

• Jane Kirabira, Undocumented Ugandan Lesbian
• Siobhán Vipond, Exeutive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress
• Frédérique Chabot, Executive Director, Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights
• Emily Dwyer, United Church of Canada
• Michele Biss, National Director, National Right to Housing Network
• Syed Hussan, Migrant Rights Network
• Cheolki Yoon, Immigrant Workers Centre

Why Regularization Matters: 

• Economic Impact: Will add at least $28 billion to the economy annually and increase EI and CPP contributions by $5.6 billion per year.
• Provides Protections: Empowers workers, women, queer and trans people, and marginalized communities to protect themselves against abuse.
• Global Precident: 24 of the 27 EU Member States have implemented regularization programs, benefiting an estimated 6 million undocumented people.
• Human Rights: Undocumented people already live and work in Canada but face exploitation and exclusion. Permanent resident status is the mechanism by which rights and equality are accessed.
• Litmus Test & Legacy Defining: Is a test of Trudeau’s pro-immigrant, pro-LGBTQ2I and feminist commitments; and an investment in generations to come.
• Broadly Supported: Over 500 groups, including most major national labour, environmental, legal, health, feminist, climate and faith organizations in Canada support regularization. 
• Historic Promise:  Prime Minister Trudeau pledged regularization in December 2021.

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Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest migrant-led coalition. We ensure the leadership of people without permanent resident status – migrant workers, international students, undocumented people, refugees and families. Member organizations of Migrant Rights Network have a long-standing commitment to ensuring regularization, and have been at the forefront of organizing for immigration justice for over 20 years.

Media Liaison (EN/FR): Karen Cocq, karen@migrantworkersalliance.org, 647-970-8464

Participation in the question and answer portion of this event is in person or via Zoom, and is for accredited members of the Press Gallery only. Media who are not members of the Press Gallery may contact pressres2@parl.gc.ca for temporary access.

[Read more…] about Advisory: Broad National Coalition Pushes for Regularization as Cabinet Decision Looms

PM Trudeau urged to ensure safety by delivering the promised regularization program on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

Toronto – Gay, lesbian and trans undocumented people are speaking up on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on May 17, 2024 to call on Prime Minister Trudeau to affirm equal rights and dignity for all by creating the regularization program he promised in December 2021. Undocumented people already live, work and have deep roots here, but without regularization – permanent resident status for undocumented people – they are facing deportation to countries where they will face violence and discrimination because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Many of these countries still have conversion therapy, strict anti-LGBTQ2I laws, punishment of same-sex relationships and even death penalties for queer people. Recently, the Liberal government reiterated its promise to bring a broad and comprehensive regularization program to Cabinet in the Spring, but Parliament is set to rise on June 6th, with no decision made yet.

Date: Friday, May 17, 2024

Time: 10:00 AM EST

Location: 2nd Floor, 720 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Ontario

What: Press conference with unmasked queer undocumented people and their supporting organizations

Speakers include:

• Charles Mwangi is a gay man from Kenya who works as a Personal Support Worker in a long-term care facility, and is facing deportation.
• Jane is a lesbian woman from Uganda, which recently made global headlines for legalizing the death penalty for queer people. She has been in Canada for 7 years.
• Maite Puerta is a queer woman from Colombia who has been in Canada for 8 years, working in cleaning.
• Debbie Douglas is the Executive Director of Ontario Council Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI). OCASI’s membership comprises more than 200 community-based organizations in Ontario.
• Fred Hahn is the President of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario and the first openly gay president in CUPE.
• Swathi Sekhar is the Director of Protection Initiatives at Rainbow Railroad, which is a global not-for-profit organization that helps at-risk LGBTQI+ people get to safety worldwide.
  

BACKGROUND

• Regularization is permanent resident status for undocumented people. See Migrant Rights Network’s position here: https://migrantrights.ca/regularization. 
• It’s time for regularization. The last major regularization program in Canada was in 1973 under then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Migrant organizing resulted in Prime Minister Trudeau committing to regularization in December 2021. Immigration Minister Marc Miller promised to bring a proposal on regularization to Cabinet in the Spring. 
• Undocumented people already live here. Undocumented people are not new arrivals. They have jobs, families, and roots in our communities. But they are unable to get any social services, benefits or protections because they are denied permanent resident status. Undocumented migrants are exploited by bad bosses and landlords, and face discrimination, abuse and deportation. Regularizing them, that is granting them permanent resident status, is about including them in the family of rights. 
• Regularization will combat poverty and grow the economy: Undocumented people work in cash-based jobs, or are under-employed. Regularized migrants will be able to work where they want and what they are skilled for and earn more income. A recent report about regularization in France, when applied to Canada, showed that regularization will increase economic activity by $28 billion per year. 
• Regularization will fund public services while the program will be cost neutral: Most undocumented people pay taxes but their employers, many of whom operate very profitable businesses, do not pay remittances. Regularizing 500,000 undocumented people will increase employer CPP and EI contributions by at least $5.6 billion, just in the first year. On the other hand, the cost of application processing will be met with existing funding and application fees. 
• Regularization will increase worker rights: Employers of undocumented workers steal wages and threaten them with deportations to stop them from asserting their rights. This abuse results in overall worsening of working conditions in the labour market for migrants and citizens alike. Regularization will allow workers to leave bad jobs, and punish bad actors. It will improve working conditions for everyone.
• Regularization will ensure public health: Migrants do not access healthcare until it is absolutely necessary due to high fees. By the time they do, their health conditions are much worse, and the impact on the healthcare system is much higher. Regularization will improve all our health. 
• Regularization will counter racism and increase gender inequality: Undocumented people are mostly racialized, low-waged people, often women. Regularization will give them the power to defend themselves against systemic exploitation. Women will be able to speak out against gender violence and leave conditions of domestic abuse.
• Regularization will build on best practices around the world: Regularization is a widely used policy tool – between 1996 and 2008, 24 of the 27 EU Member States implemented regularization programs, and some several times. An estimated 5.5 to 6 million people were regularized in that time. 

###

For media inquiries or to RSVP, please contact:
Fatima Hussain
Communications Organizer
fatima@migrantworkersalliance.org | 647-773-2068

Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest cross-country, migrant-led coalition. We ensure the leadership of people without permanent resident status – workers, international students, undocumented people, refugees and families. Member organizations of Migrant Rights Network have a long-standing commitment to ensuring regularization, and have been at the forefront of organizing for immigration justice for over 20 years.

Media Advisory

Actions Across the Country to Mark Anti-Racism Day, Launch #MigrantSpring to Call on PM Trudeau to Ensure Equality & Status

Migrants are calling for action as Immigration Minister promised permanent resident status for undocumented people in the Spring, and immigration programs for care workers and international students are set to expire

Charlottetown, Fredericton, Montreal, Ottawa, St. John’s, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria — Eight communities in six provinces are organizing actions this weekend, March 16-17, 2024, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as immigrants and refugees are scapegoated for the affordability crisis and to launch #MigrantSpring, calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to deliver on regularization and permanent resident status for all migrants.

• WHAT: Migrant workers, students, refugees, undocumented people, and supporters marking International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and launching #MigrantSpring.
• WHEN & WHERE: March 16-17, 2024; time and locations vary by city, see below.
• VISUALS: Massive marches, teach-ins, community events featuring migrants, hand-painted banners, and signs.
• CROSS-COUNTRY MEDIA CONTACT: Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org (local media contacts listed below).

Background

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination takes place on March 21. Spring is set to begin on March 19, and Parliament will rise for two weeks following the week starting on March 18, 2024.

Why #MigrantSpring launch to mark International Day for Elimination of Racism:

• Immigration Minister Marc Miller pledged to bring regularization to the Cabinet in the Spring. #MigrantSpring calls for a program that ensures permanent resident status for all undocumented people without exclusions.
• Thousands of care workers are at risk of deportation due to expiring programs or have already been excluded because of excessive requirements. #MigrantSpring calls for permanent resident status for all care workers, without unfair language and education requirements.
• Landlords, grocery monopolies, and governments are scapegoating migrants, blaming us for the housing and affordability crisis and perpetuating racism and division. #MigrantSpring pushes back against xenophobia and calls for decent work, housing, and universal services for everyone, including migrants.
• The federal government has capped permanent immigration. International students and their family permits have been restricted. Visas have been imposed on Mexico. Sudanese and Palestinian refugees face exceptional hurdles unlike Ukrainian refugees. The 20-hour work limit is set to be placed on international students on April 30th. These caps and exclusions mean that bad bosses can exploit migrants more, and racialized migrants are denied rights. #MigrantSpring demands equality and justice for all. 

Details of Actions Across Canada

Saturday, March 16, 2024

• Charlottetown, PE: 3:00 PM, Trinity United Church, 220 Richmond Street. 
  • Media contact: Ryan MacRae, 902-916-5002, Cooper Institute. 
• Montreal, QC: 1:00 PM, Place de la Gare-Jean-Talon (Parc Metro). 
  • Media contact: Mostafa Henaway, 514 659-0106, Immigrant Workers Centre (EN); Samira Jasmin,  514-809-0773, Solidarity Across Borders (FR). 
• Ottawa, ON: Saturday, March 16, 2024, 6:00 PM, Bronson Centre (MAC Hall), 211 Bronson Avenue. 
  • Media contact: Aimee Beboso, 613-255-1921, Migrante Ottawa. 
• Toronto, ON: 12:00 PM, Christie Pits Park, 750 Bloor West. Media contact: 
  • Fatima Hussain, 647-773-2068, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

• Fredericton, NB: 11:00 AM, Conserver House 180 Saint John Street. 
  • Media contact: Niger Saravia 506-251-7467, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change;Tracy Glynn, 506-440-5592, Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre
• St John’s, NL: 2:00 PM, The Landing, University Center 2nd Floor, Memorial University. 
  • Media contact: Domé Lombeida, Maria Dussan, & Sobia Shaikh, 709-730-4322, Anti-Racism Coalition NL (ARC-NL) & The Quilted Collective. 
• Vancouver, BC: 1:00 PM, CBC Plaza, 700 Hamilton Street. 
  • Media contact: Julie Diesta, 778-881-8345, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights; Rahil Adeli, 778-512-5152, Migrant Students United at SFU / Migrant Workers Alliance for Change; Omar Chu, 778-883-6627, Sanctuary Health, 
• Victoria, BC: 1:00 PM, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, 501 Belleville Street. 
  • Media contact: Pamela Charron, 705-698-6380, Worker Solidarity Network

Des mobilisations pour les fêtes ce week-end à Fredericton, Toronto, Montréal, St Catharines, Vancouver et Welland: des migrant·e·s distribuent des lettres manuscrites exhortant Trudeau à remplir ses promesses en matière d’égalité. 

Fredericton, Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, Saint Catharines, le 14 décembre 2023 — Le ministre d’Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada, Marc Miller, promet de proposer au Cabinet, au printemps 2024, un programme de régularisation large qui s’appliquerait à des centaines de milliers de personnes, rapporte aujourd’hui le Globe and Mail. Migrant Rights Network (MRN) attend avec impatience la construction d’un programme qui accorderait le statut de résident permanent à toutes les personnes sans-papiers au Canada satisfaisant les critères de résidence, sans exclusion. 

Le premier ministre a supervisé près de 21 000 déportations, trahissant sa parole : un engagement vers la régularisation le 16 décembre 2021. Les déportations doivent cesser immédiatement pour assurer la cohérence avec l’annonce qu’un programme de régularisation est à venir. 

Durant la période des fêtes, des centaines de migrant·e·s, incluant des enfants, ont écrit de lettres sincères, partageant leurs expériences de vie – sans statut de résident permanent. Ces lettres seront envoyées au premier ministre Trudeau lors du week-end de la Journée internationale des migrant·e·s, deux ans après la promesse initiale de programme de régularisation. Des efforts de mobilisation coordonnés à Fredericton, Montréal, Toronto, Saint Catharines, Welland et Vancouver viseront à réclamer que le premier ministre Trudeau s’assure que TOUTES les personnes sans-papiers, étudiant·e·s étranger·ère·s et travailleur·euse·s obtienennt le statut de résident permanent pour atteindre une véritable égalité. 

Mobilisations et contact-médias : 

• FREDERICTON: 17 décembre 2023, 11h, bureau de Jenica Atwin (députée), 154 Main St. Contact: Niger Saravia, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, 506-251-7467
• MONTRÉAL: 18 décembre 2023, 10h30, bureau du premier ministre Trudeau, 1100 Crémazie East. Contact-média: Mostafa Henaway, Immigrant Workers Centre, 514-659-0106 (EN); Samira Jasmin, Solidarité sans frontières, 514-809-0773 (FR) 
• TORONTO: 16 décembre 2023, 11h, Arbre de Noël près de l’Hôtel de Ville de Toronto. Contact: Sarom Rho, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, 416-887-8315
• SAINT CATHARINES: 18 décembre 2023, 10h30, bureau de Chris Bittle (député), 61 Geneva St. Contact-média: Kit Andres, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, 905-324-2840
• WELLAND: 18 décembre 2023, 11h30, bureau de Vance Badawey (député), 136 E Main St. Contact-média : Kit Andres, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, 905-324-2840
• VANCOUVER: 17 décembre 2023, bureau de Harjit Sajjan (ministre), 6406 Victoria Drive. Contact-média: Julie Diesta, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers’ and Caregivers’ Rights (CDWCR), 778-881-8345

Les lettres manuscrites ont pour objectif d’attirer l’attention sur la pauvreté, la peur, l’exploitation et l’exclusion vécues par près de deux millions de migrant·e·s au pays à qui l’on a refusé le statut de résident permanent. Cliquez ici pour lire quelques-unes des centaines de lettres demandant l’octroi du statut de résident permanent pour tous et toutes. En voici des extraits : 

• « Je serai plus heureux si mes parents avaient leur statut. C’est Noël : le temps de donner. »
• « Sans la carte de résident permanent, j’ai peur de tomber malade parce que je n’ai pas d’assurance-maladie. »
• « Notre vie a pris fin lorsque nous avons perdu notre statut, nous vous demandons de nous écouter, de nous donner le statut pour que nous puissions vivre comme tout le monde. »
• « Tout le monde voyage pour les fêtes pour profiter du temps en famille et avec leurs êtres chers, mais il y a plusieurs immigrants au Canada qui n’ont pas le statut de résident permanent et qui manqueront ce temps avec leurs familles. »
• « C’est beaucoup de stress à endurer. La dépression est un sentiment horrible à travers lequel les gens passent. Je suis ici depuis cinq ans, j’ai quitté ma famille, mes enfants. J’essaie de rester positif. Passer à travers est très difficile. »

Des migrant·e·s prennent soin des aînés et des enfants, travaillent en usines, font fonctionner nos hôpitaux, cultivent notre nourriture et bâtissent nos maisons, mais ils·elles sont privé·e·s des mêmes droits que la plupart des gens au Canada tiennent pour acquis parce qu’on leur a refusé le statut de résident permanent. 

La résidence permanente pour tous·toutes ajouterait des milliards de dollars aux fonds publics par années à travers la contribution d’employeurs qui ne paient pas d’impôts ni taxes lorsqu’ils engagent des personnes sans-papiers. Elle améliorerait les résultats en matière de santé pour des centaines de milliers de personnes qui pourraient accéder à des soins de santé primaires et qui ne se retrouveraient pas dans les salles d’urgence. Elle mettrait fin à la pression à la baisse sur les salaires et les conditions de travail causée par l’exploitation de personnes migrantes par les employeurs. Elle permettrait aux migrant·e·s de s’enraciner, de participer pleinement à la société et de gagner de la mobilité au travail pour répondre aux besoins en matière d’emploi au sein d’industries et de régions qui en ont besoin. 

Contexte

La proposition du Migrant Rights Network pour un programme exhaustif et sans plafond de régularisation – qui octroierait la résidence permanente sans exclusions – peut être trouvée ici. Plus de cinq cent organisations de la société civile, de travailleur·euse·s et environnementales – en collaboration avec des organisations dirigées par des migrant·e·s au Canada – militent pour un statut complet et permanent pour tous·toutes les migrant·e·s et la l’octroi du statut de résident permanent pour les arrivées futures. 

Près de 36 000 personnes ont envoyé des messages au Cabinet pour soutenir l’octroi d’un statut de résident permanent pour tous et toutes : http://www.StatusforAll.ca.

Migrant Rights Network
MEDIA ADVISORY

National Media Contact: Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org

Holiday Actions This Weekend in Fredericton, Toronto, Montreal, St Catharines, Vancouver and Welland: Migrants Deliver Handwritten Letters Urging Trudeau to Fulfill Equality Promise

Fredericton, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, St Catharines, Welland, December 14, 2023 — Immigration Minister Marc Miller promised to bring a proposal for a “broad and comprehensive” regularization program for hundreds of thousands of people to Cabinet in Spring 2024 in the Globe and Mail today. The Migrant Rights Network (MRN) looks forward to building a program that will grant permanent resident status for all undocumented people in Canada who have met a basic residency requirement without exclusions.

The Prime Minister has overseen 21,000 deportations, betraying his own words, since his commitment to regularization on December 16, 2021. Deportations must stop today to be coherent with the announcement that regularization is on its way. 

This holiday season, hundreds of migrants including children, have penned heartfelt holiday letters, sharing their experiences of living without permanent resident status. These letters will be delivered to Prime Minister Trudeau on the weekend of International Migrants Day, two years since he first promised a regularization program. Coordinated actions in Fredericton, Montreal, Toronto, St Catharines, Welland and Vancouver will demand that Prime Minister Trudeau ensure permanent resident status for ALL undocumented people, migrant students and workers, to achieve true equality. 

ACTIONS & MEDIA CONTACTS

• FREDERICTON: December 17, 2023, 11am, MP Jenica Atwin’s office, 154 Main St. Contact: Niger Saravia, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, 506-251-7467
• MONTREAL: December 18, 2023, 10:30am, PM Justin Trudeau’s office, 1100 Crémazie East. Media contact: Mostafa Henaway, Immigrant Workers Centre, 514-659-0106 (EN); Samira Jasmin, Solidarité sans frontières, 514-809-0773 (FR) 
• TORONTO: December 16, 2023, 11am, Christmas Tree near Toronto City Hall. Contact: Sarom Rho, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, 416-887-8315
• ST CATHARINES: December 18, 2023, 10:30am, MP Chris Bittle’s Office, 61 Geneva St. Media contact: Kit Andres, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, 905-324-2840
• WELLAND: December 18, 2023, 11:30am, MP Vance Badawey’s Office, 136 E Main St. Media contact: Kit Andres, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, 905-324-2840.
• VANCOUVER: December 17, 2023, 10:00am. Minister Harjit Sajjan’s Office, 6406 Victoria Drive. Media contact: Julie Diesta, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers’ and Caregivers’ Rights (CDWCR), 778-881-8345 

The hand-written letters draw attention to the poverty, fear, exploitation, and exclusion experienced by nearly 2 million migrants in the country who are denied permanent resident status. Click here for selection of just a few of the hundreds of the letters calling for permanent resident status for all. Excerpts include:

• “I will be more happier if my parents get their status. It’s Christmas, the time of giving.”
• “Without permanent resident status, I am afraid to get sick because I don’t have a healthcard.”
• “Our life ended when we lost our status, we request you to listen to us, give us status so that we can have a life like everyone else.”
• “Everyone is going for holidays, including you to enjoy with your family and loved ones, but there are many immigrants in Canada who don’t have permanent resident status and they gonna miss this time with their family”. 
• “It’s a lot of stress people go through. Depression is an awful feeling people pass through. I have been here for five years, left my family, my kids. I’m trying to be positive. To be able to get through this is really hard.”  

Migrants care for the elderly and children, work in factories, keep our hospitals running, grow food and build homes, but they are excluded from the same rights that others in Canada take for granted because they are denied permanent resident status. 

Permanent resident status for all will add billions of dollars to the public purse per year through contributions by employers who currently don’t pay taxes when they hire undocumented people; improve overall health outcomes as hundreds of thousands of people will be able to access primary care and not end up in emergency rooms; and end the downward pressure on wages and working conditions caused by employer exploitation of migrant workers. It will allow migrants to lay down deeper roots, participate more fully in society, and gain labour mobility to fill jobs in industries and regions where workers are needed. 

BACKGROUND

The Migrant Rights Network’s proposal for a comprehensive uncapped regularization program, granting permanent resident status without exclusions, can be found here. Over 500 civil society, labour, and environmental organizations, alongside all migrant-led organizations in Canada, advocate for full and permanent immigration status for all migrants and immediate permanent resident status for future arrivals.

Over 36,000 people have sent messages to the Cabinet in support of permanent resident status for all: www.StatusforAll.ca.

Media Advisory
Migrant Rights Network

David Suzuki, Labour, Health, Refugee and Climate Organizations Unite to Call for Status for All

When Parliament returns Trudeau must deliver on his promise

Toronto, September 15, 2023 – Over 200 organizations representing millions of people in Canada have joined forces behind migrant and undocumented actions taking place in 15 cities across Canada this weekend on the eve of Parliament’s return (details for each action below). The groups are calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to deliver on his promise to provide permanent status and equal rights for all migrants in Canada. It has been twenty months since Prime Minister Trudeau gave mandate letter instructions to provide permanent resident status for undocumented people, migrant workers, students, and families. This commitment has since been reiterated repeatedly by multiple elected officials and civil servants in government media statements, in Parliamentary committees and in meetings with migrant-led movements. Hundreds of thousands of people in Canada suffer from poverty, fear, and exploitation because they are denied permanent resident status. Migrants care for grandparents and children, work in factories, keep our hospitals running, and build homes, but they are excluded from the same rights that others in Canada take for granted. 

This weekend’s actions are endorsed by over 200 organizations including major labour bodies like Unifor and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE); environmental groups like Climate Action Network, Greenpeace and David Suzuki Foundation; faith bodies like the United Church of Canada; health organizations like Canadian Doctors for Medicare andCanadian Federation of Nurses Unions and human rights groups like Oxfam Canada and dozens of immigrant and refugee rights organizations

“We live in fear. We are hopeless sometimes. I have been spat at, pushed, abused and denied fairness at work but I can’t leave because I am undocumented and no one else will hire me. I am a personal support, I worked to save so many people in COVID-19. My mother is sick, I haven’t seen her in six years, and I think I may never see her again unless we get permanent resident status for all like prime minister Justin Trudeau promised twenty months ago. We want status for all so we can all live a complete and equal life.”
Jane, undocmented, Migrant Rights Network

“The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) will continue fighting for fairness and justice for migrants.  These workers and their families contribute greatly to the economy and society and deserve pathways to security and permanency. Many live and work in fear of detection, detainment and deportation. Their status also makes them vulnerable to workplace exploitation and abuse. Today, the CLC expresses its continued support for migrants in the fight for their rights and freedoms.”
Siobhán Vipond, Executive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress

“The people of The United Church of Canada hold the belief that we are called to love and show hospitality to everyone in our midst. We believe in the dignity of creation and of God’s loving grace and its equitable expressions. We also believe that love for the whole community of creation is a universal value, shared by all peoples of the world. It is these beliefs that drive us to call on Canada to ensure equal rights for all by extending permanent residence to 1.7 million migrants, including 500,000 undocumented migrants who bring their whole selves and skills to their new lives on this land. Status for All will benefit Canada greatly, enhance the diversity of our country and ensure that all people in our country are able to live with dignity and access their inherent human rights.”
Rev. Dr. Jennifer Henry, Executive Minister, The United Church of Canada

“The Canadian Health Coalition supports regularizing the immigration status of a half million people because it would lift up Canada’s public health care system in three important ways. First, so many temporary and undocumented residents are trained health care professionals who want to fill the staffing shortages from home care to hospital emergency rooms in our communities. Not having permanent residency status restricts where people can work. Second, not having permanent residency status denies migrants the right to health care. Nell Tousssaint, who lost her status to stay in the country after experiencing employer abuse, brought Canada to court for denying her essential health care because of her status. She died far too young due to not having timely access to health care. Finally, by denying public health care to certain groups of people, we further kick open the door to privatization when we should be shutting it. Let’s regularize the immigration status of people to stop private interests from profiting from vulnerable populations. It supports Canada’s dream of Medicare to give all of us accessible and comprehensive public health care.”
Steve Staples, National Director, Canadian Health Coalition

“As a grandson of immigrants, I know the sting of discrimination as my Canadian born parents and I were denied all rights of citizenship during World War II, incarcerated for three years then expelled from British Columbia at war’s end. The exploitation of migrants today is simply a consequence of the continuing racism on which this nation was founded.  I am ashamed that the county hasn’t been able to transcend this legacy.”
David Suzuki

“The federal government committed almost two years ago to regularize the status of a range of vulnerable migrant populations who are living, working and contributing to Canadian society without access to permanent residence —from seasonal workers to caregivers to those fleeing persecution and exploitation. The silence on this file is now deafening.  Our 200 members see how every day of continued precarity for these individuals perpetuates a two-tiered society and leaves many migrants —generally racialized and largely women— without access to their rights. It’s past time for status for all.”
Gauri Sreenivasan, Co-Executive Director, Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR)

“This summer’s accelerating climate disasters have taken an especially heavy toll on migrants – who play an essential role to feed us, take care of us, and, most importantly, are valued members of our communities. As Canada continues to pour fuel on the fire of the global climate crisis, which is displacing more and more people from their homes, Status for All is a matter of climate justice. Politicians have waited long enough. The moment to act on a historic and pragmatic opportunity to better thousands of lives is now.”
Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director, Climate Action Network Canada

Migrant Rights Network Actions in Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Montreal, Ottawa, St Catharines, St Johns, Sudbury, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Whitehorse and Winnipeg.

EDMONTON, AB: September 17, 1:00 PM, Alberta Legislature
Media Contact: Clarizze Truscott, Migrante Alberta, 780-716-5284

HALIFAX, NS: September 15, 11:30am, MP Andy Fillmore’s office, 1888 Brunswick Street
Media Contact: Stacey Gomez, No one is illegal – Nova Scotia, (902) 329-9595

HAMILTON, ON: September 17, 1:30pm, MP Filomena Tassi’s Office, 1686 Main St W
Media Contact: Monika Dutt, Justice for Workers – Hamilton, 905-818-5978

KINGSTON, ON: September 17, 11am, MP Gerretsen’s office, 841 Princess Street
Media Contact: Sayyida Jaffer, Migrant Justice YGK, (613) 539-8594 

LONDON, ON: September 17, 1pm, Victoria Park – North-West entrance
Media Contacts: Sam Kaplun, Democratic Socialists of Canada, (416) 312-2671; David Heap, People for Peace London, (519) 859-3579. 

MONTREAL, QC: September 17, 2pm, Minister Millers’ office, 3175 Rue Saint-Jacques
Media Contact: Solidarity Across Borders, 514-809-0773

OTTAWA, ON: September 16, 11am, Parliament Hill
Media Contact: Emilio Rodriguez, Citizens for Public Justice, 343-996-4199

ST CATHARINES, ON: September 17, 2pm, MP Chris Bittle’s Office, 61 Geneva Street
Media Contact: David Tulloch, 905-380-6133, Justice for Workers – Niagara

ST JOHN’S, NL: September 24, 4pm, Harbourside Park
Media Contact: Adi Khaitan, Migrant Action Centre, 709-693-6032

SUDBURY, ON: September 17, 1pm, Memorial Park
Media Contact: Scott Florence, Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Centre, 705-470-3323

TORONTO, ON: September 17, 2pm, Bloor & Yonge
Media Contact: Rajean Hoilett, Migrant Right Network – Ontario,  289-923-3534

VANCOUVER, BC: September 17, 4pm, CBSA HQ, 300 West Georgia Street
Media Contact: Byron Cruz, Sanctuary Health Vancouver Collective (SH), (604) 315-7725, Julie Diesta, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights (CDWCR), (778) 881-8345, WeiChun Kua, Migrant Students United at SFU, (778) 887-4936

VICTORIA, BC: September 17, 11am, BC Legislature
Media Contact: Pamela Charron, Worker Solidarity Network, 705-698-6380

WHITEHORSE, YT: September 15, 12-3pm, 308 Hanson St, Whitehorse
Media Contact: Jess Dorward, Yukon Status of Women Council, 867-332-5541 

WINNIPEG: September 17, 3pm, City Hall
Media Contact: Damon, No One Is Illegal Treaty One, 431-293-6534

About Migrant Rights Network

Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest coalition of migrant-led organizations, with nearly 40 members in 8 provinces and territories. To see our list of members, please visit www,migrantrights.ca/about 

Cross-Country Media Contact:
Syed Hussan, Migrant Rights Network Secretariat,  416-453-3632, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org 

Toronto, 29 juin 2023 – Le Réseau pour les droits des personnes migrantes – la plus grande coalition menée par les personnes migrantes au Canada – salue l’appel lancée cette semaine au Conseil des droits de l’homme par Felipe González Morales, rapporteur spécial des Nations Unies sur les droits humains des personnes migrantes, en faveur de la création de programmes de régularisation accordant le statut de résidence permanente aux migrant-e-s sans-papiers et un meilleur soutien pour les travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s.

En publiant son dernier rapport très attendu à la fin de son mandat, Monsieur Morales a insisté que « la régularisation est un outil de protection et d’inclusion qui bénéficie aux personnes migrantes, leurs familles, les pays de destination et les communautés. Les États doivent offrir des options pour la résidence permanente, la citoyenneté et une participation significative des personnes migrantes dans les sociétés d’accueil. »

Ce rapport, paru après une étude menée sur une période d’une année, met en lumière les raisons pour lesquelles les personnes migrantes deviennent sans-papiers, les conséquences qui accompagnent l’absence de statut et les critères spécifiques que les programmes de régularisation doivent satisfaire, qui s’enlignent tous avec les recommandations du Réseau pour les droits des personnes migrantes. En décembre 2021, le premier ministre Justin Trudeau a promis d’assurer un statut de résident-e permanent-e aux personnes migrantes sans-papiers, ainsi que pour les étudiant-e-s et les travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s. La troisième session parlementaire depuis cette promesse a pris fin ce juin sans action ni annonce.

« Depuis des décennies maintenant, les personnes migrantes sans-papiers et leurs organisations ont promu la régularisation comme programme le plus efficace pour respecter les droits et la justice pour les personnes migrantes sans-papiers. Plus de 500 organismes de la société civile se sont ralliés à nous, et les Nations unies ajoutent maintenant leur voix. Qu’est-ce qu’il faut de plus au premier ministre Trudeau pour faire la bonne chose ? », demande Syed Hussan, secrétaire du Réseau pour les droits des personnes migrantes. « Nous réclamons que le premier ministre Trudeau accorde sans plus tarder le statut de résident-e permanent-e à toutes les personnes migrantes sans-papiers, les travailleurs et travailleuses, les étudiant-e-s et les familles migrantes ».

Le rapporteur spécial des Nations unies sur les droits humains des personnes migrantes a noté que « la régularisation constitue une première étape vers l’intégration économique et sociale concrète pour les personnes migrantes dans leurs pays de destination et leurs communautés. En termes économiques, la régularisation permet aux personnes migrantes d’accéder aux emplois réguliers, d’entreprendre des initiatives entrepreneuriales, de lancer des petites entreprises, de travailler à leur compte et de faire pleinement usage de leur capacité d’innovation. En ce qui concerne les droits sociaux, l’obtention d’un statut régulier permet aussi aux personnes migrantes d’accéder aux systèmes de protection et de sécurité sociale puisque, dans certains pays, les soins de santé universels sont limités aux traitements d’urgence et l’éducation disponible aux enfants migrants avec un statut irrégulier se limite aux écoles primaires; les personnes migrantes dans une situation régulière bénéficient d’un meilleur accès aux systèmes de santé et d’éducation » (paragraphe n° 44).

La recommandation prioritaire du rapport est que « le rapporteur spécial conclut qu’à travers des avenues d’immigration régulière basées sur les droits humains et sensibles au genre, ainsi qu’avec la régularisation des personnes migrantes sans-papiers, les États doivent offrir des options pour la résidence permanente, la citoyenneté et une participation significative à la vie civique afin de faciliter l’intégration sociale et familiale ».

Monsieur Felipe a aussi souligné que les États doivent « offrir plus de flexibilité pour s’assurer que les droits et le statut de résidence des personnes migrantes ne soient pas liés à un seul employeur », afin d’éviter que ces personnes deviennent sans-papiers. 

Mise en contexte

• Le rapport complet est disponible ici : https://daccess-ods.un.org/tmp/4915490.15045166.html.
• Le communiqué de presse de l’ONU est disponible ici : https://news.un.org/fr/story/2023/06/1136457.
• La proposition du Réseau pour les droits des personnes migrantes sur la régularisation : https://migrantrights.ca/resources/la-regularisation-au-canada/.

Contact pour les médias

Syed Hussan, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org.

Toronto, June 29, 2023 – The Migrant Rights Network – Canada’s largest migrant-led coalition – welcomes the call by Felipe González Morales, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants at the Human Rights Council this week, urging countries to create regularization (permanent resident status) programs for undocumented migrants and provide more supports to migrant workers. 

Releasing his much-awaited final report at the end of his tenure, Mr Morales insisted that “Regularization is a tool of protection and inclusion that benefits migrants, their families, destination countries and communities. States must provide options for permanent residence, citizenship and meaningful participation of migrants in host societies.”

The report, issued after a year-long study, outlines the reasons that migrants become undocumented, the impacts of living without status and the specific criteria regularization programs must meet, all of which are in line with the recommendations of Migrant Rights Network. In December 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to ensure permanent resident status for undocumented migrants, and for migrant students and workers. The third Parliamentary session since this promise ended this June without any action or announcement.

“For decades now, undocumented migrants and their organizations have called for regularization as the single-most effective policy program to ensure rights and justice for undocumented migrants, over 500 civil society organizations have joined us, now the United Nations is adding their voice, what more will it take for Prime Minister Trudeau to do the right thing?”, asked Syed Hussan, Migrant Rights Network Secretariat. “We call on Prime Minister Trudeau to ensure permanent resident status for all undocumented people, migrant workers, students and families without delay.”

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants report noted that “Regularization serves as a first step towards concrete economic and social integration for migrants in their destination countries and communities. In economic terms, regularization allows migrants to obtain formal employment, undertake entrepreneurial ventures, establish small businesses, pursue self employment and exercise their capacity for innovation. Regarding social rights, obtaining regular status also allows migrants to access social security protection systems as, in some countries, universal health care is limited to emergency treatment and the schooling available to migrant children with irregular status is limited to primary education; migrants in regular situations enjoy greater access to health-care systems and education” (Paragraph #44)

The top-recommendation of the report is that “The Special Rapporteur concludes that through human rights-based, gender responsive pathways for regular migration and for the regularization of undocumented migrants, States must provide options for permanent residence, citizenship and meaningful participation in civic life to facilitate social and family integration.”

Mr Felipe further recommends that States must “provide more flexibility to ensure that the rights and residence status of migrants are not tied to one employer” so as to ensure that migrants do not become undocumented. 

Background

• Read the full report here: https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G23/075/40/PDF/G2307540.pdf?OpenElement
• Read the UN’s press release here: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/06/states-must-broaden-pathways-regularisation-migrants-un-expert
• Watch a video of the presentation by the Special Rapporteur: https://twitter.com/UN_HRC/status/1673341847069134848
• Migrant Rights Network’s proposal for regularization: https://migrantrights.ca/resources/regularization-in-canada/

Media Contact
Syed Hussan, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org 

Migrant Rights Network
Media Release

Migrant Organizations Condemn “Unprincipled and Dangerous” Roxham Road Closure, Call on PM Trudeau to Ensure Safe Access and Equal Rights for Migrants 

Ottawa – Migrant Rights Network – Canada’s largest cross-county coalition of migrant-led organizations – is condemning the unprincipled and dangerous decision to close Roxham Road, details of which are yet to be announced. Closing it will only force migrants to take even more dangerous routes because the Safe Third Country Agreement and other immigration laws do not allow migrants more dignified or safer ways of crossing to travel or seek asylum in either country, a right that is protected under international law. We call on Prime Minister Trudeau to end the Safe Third Country Agreement, to ensure migrants can safely cross the US-Canada border, and to ensure equal rights through permanent resident status for all migrants. 

United States and Canadian corporate and military interests profit from war, climate catastrophe, and economic precarity in the Global South, and both countries routinely meddle in elections and elected governments abroad, creating crises that cause people to migrate. 

Facts about Roxham Road crossing:

• According to the latest numbers reported, 20,891 people crossed into Canada by foot to claim asylum in 2022. This is a comparatively small number:
  • 616,429 Ukranians have been approved for travel to Canada since 2022; 
  • Nearly 1.2 million new work and study permits were approved in Canada in 2022;
  • 60,158 total in-country asylum claims were made in Canada in 2022 (including those who crossed by foot from the United States). 
• When asylum claimants arrive on foot from the US, they go through normal security screenings and the refugee claim process just like any other claimant. The acceptance rate for asylum seekers crossing on foot is 60%, the same as all other claimants. 

Available for comment:

• Quebec (fr/en): Hady Anne, tel. 514-809-0773 , Solidarity Across Borders 
• Alberta: Marco Luciano, 780-966-5908, Migrante Alberta 
• British Columbia: Omar Chu 778-883-6627, Sanctuary Health
• New Brunswick: Niger Saravia, 506-251-7467, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change
• Nova Scotia: Stacey Gomez, 902-329-9595, No One Is Illegal – Nova Scotia
• Ontario: Sarom Rho, 416-887-8315, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change
• Prince Edward Island: Ryan MacRae, Cooper Institute, 902-916-5002

—

Migrant Rights Network
info@migrantrights.ca 

We call for permanent resident status for all and an end to deportations. 

Canada, January 20, 2023 – Migrant Rights Network – Canada’s largest migrant-led coalition – is reiterating its call for an uncapped and inclusive regularization program that ensures permanent resident status for all 500,000 undocumented people and their families in response to today’s announcement that provides an extremely difficult path to permanent residency to just 500 undocumented construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area. Migrant Rights Network will be demonstrating in support of equality and fairness for all outside the winter Cabinet retreat on Monday, January 23, 2023, at 12pm in Hamilton, Ontario.

Byron Cruz, organizer with Sanctuary Health in Vancouver says, “This announcement from the federal government definitely does not respond to the demands of the undocumented communities across the country. We urgently need a cross-country immigration regularization program, inclusive for all. Enough is enough we do not want migrants to be detained or to die in immigration prisons.”

Prime Minister Trudeau promised a regularization program on December 16, 2021. Without it, many continue to suffer. An as yet unnamed undocumented migrant died in immigration custody in Surrey, BC on Christmas Day. Fritznel Richard died a few days later in Quebec while crossing the border back to the US after being unable to get a work permit in Canada. 

Yonnel Destin, an undocumented spokesperson for the Montreal based Solidarity Across Borders, added, “This program is completely insufficient. Undocumented people live all over Canada, and work in all kinds of industries. While they’re playing around with pilot programs, we live in fear of detention and deportation. Where is the full regularization programme we’ve been promised? We don’t need yet another completely inadequate program that entirely fails to recognize that I am equal to everyone else in this country.”

The announcement today is an extension of a public policy first launched in January 2020 and ran for three years, in which time only 500 applications were processed because of exclusionary requirements. Only those who are related to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident are allowed to apply. Among other requirements, applicants must also prove that they have been living in Canada for five years and that they have been working in specific jobs in construction for at least 4,680 hours – both of which requires documentation from landlords, and employers that puts them at greater risk of exploitation. 

Marco Luciano, Director, Migrante Alberta, based in Edmonton, added, “Today’s announcement is disappointing. It does not address the fundamental issue of undocumented migrants. Piecemeal regularization is not the solution. We demand an inclusive regularization program without caps and for all sectors. We must end the inhumane deportation and detention of migrants.”

Every migrant-led organization in Canada, as well as over 480 civil society organizations, have jointly called for full and permanent immigration status for all migrants in the country, as well as permanent resident status for all on arrival in future. 25,000 people have sent messages to Ministers over the last few months. 

Nina Gonzalez, undocumented organizer with the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal says. “It might be good news for the undocumented people working in construction in the Greater Toronto Area who can qualify, but it gives again a sense of exclusion to all the migrant construction workers who work in the rest of Canada and other migrants who are not working in the construction sector. We need an inclusive and predictable regularization program based on universal human rights, applied to all over Canada regardless of occupation, work experience or other unfair requirements.”

“Every person that gets status means one more person included in the family of rights, so today’s announcement means that potentially 500 racialized, working class people will have the power to protect themselves and be with their families; now we need a regularization program for the 499,500 undocumented migrants and their families and 1.2 million migrants on temporary status that are being shut out of equal rights,” said Syed Hussan, Executive Director, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

BACKGROUND

• Migrant Rights Network proposal for regularization: https://migrantrights.ca/resources/regularization-in-canada/  
• Comprehensive regularization (a program that includes all 500,000 undocumented people without caps or exclusions) will address a historic wrong; improve working conditions by giving migrants the power to protect themselves; guarantee public health; and add at least $1.1 billion dollars to the public purse through contributions by employers who currently don’t pay taxes.  
• While statistics have not been released, migrant organizations have all reported a sharp increase in detentions and deportations in 2022. In fiscal year 2020-2021, Canada deported an average of 31 people each day. An undocumented migrant died in Surrey immigration prison on Christmas Day. 
• 2022 is set to become the year with the highest number of temporary work and study permits, without any increase in access to permanent rights for low-waged migrants. Over 853,000 work and study permits were issued January – September, 2022.
• There are at least 1.2 million people in Canada on temporary work, study or refugee claimant permits issued in Canada each year. Those in low-waged work in particular have no access to permanent residency so eventually they are forced to either leave or stay in the country undocumented. As a result, there are over 500,000 undocumented people in the country. 
• That is, there are at least 1.7 million migrants – 1 in 23 residents in Canada – who do not have equal rights.  
• Migrants are excluded from healthcare and social services and cannot unite with their families. Lack of permanent resident status makes it difficult, and often impossible, for migrants to speak up for their rights at work or access services, including those they may be eligible for, because of a well-founded fear of reprisals, termination, eviction and deportation. 
• Migrants – mostly low-waged, racialized, working class people – are deemed essential but are excluded from rights. Thousands of migrants lost their lives and livelihoods in COVID-19 while working in farms, long-term care homes, construction, cleaning, and delivery work. 

Media Contact:
Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632, Migrant Rights Network Secretariat  

A fair society is only possible when everyone has equal rights; and equal rights are only possible if everyone has the same immigration status.

Toronto – Hundreds of migrants including undocumented people, farmworkers, domestic workers, current and former international students and refugees will be joined by supporters outside the Hamilton Convention Centre in Ontario at noon on Monday, January 23, 2023 where the winter federal Cabinet Ministers retreat is taking place. Migrants are gathering to demonstrate support for a life-altering uncapped and inclusive regularization program through which an estimated half a million undocumented people and their families will get permanent resident status; as well as calling for permanent resident status for all migrants.

Prime Minister Trudeau promised regularization of undocumented people and permanent resident status for migrant workers and international students on December 16, 2021 following decades of mobilization by migrants, but Cabinet has still not made a final decision. Exploitation, abuse and deportation continues in the meantime.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

TORONTO – 10am, Monday, January 23, 2023, 720 Spadina Avenue.
HAMILTON – 12pm, Monday, January 23, 2023, Outside Hamilton Convention Centre, Meet at Hamilton City Hall

• VISUALS: Buses departing from Toronto and arriving in Hamilton; large banners; migrants, families and supporters
  WHO: Migrants, including those facing deportation, community leaders and organizers will be available for comment

BACKGROUND

• Migrant Rights Network proposal for regularization: https://migrantrights.ca/resources/regularization-in-canada/
• Comprehensive regularization (a program that includes all 500,000 undocumented people without caps or exclusions) will address a historic wrong; improve working conditions by giving migrants the power to protect themselves; guarantee public health; and add at least $1.1 billion dollars to the public purse through contributions by employers who currently don’t pay taxes.
• While statistics have not been released, migrant organizations have all reported a sharp increase in detentions and deportations in 2022. In fiscal year 2020-2021, Canada deported an average of 31 people each day. An undocumented migrant died in Surrey immigration prison on Christmas Day.
• 2022 is set to become the year with the highest number of temporary work and study permits, without any increase in access to permanent rights for low-waged migrants. Over 853,000 work and study permits were issued January – September, 2022.
• There are at least 1.2 million people in Canada on temporary work, study or refugee claimant permits issued in Canada each year. Those in low-waged work in particular have no access to permanent residency so eventually they are forced to either leave or stay in the country undocumented. As a result, there are over 500,000 undocumented people in the country.
• That is, there are at least 1.7 million migrants – 1 in 23 residents in Canada – who do not have equal rights.
• Migrants are excluded from healthcare and social services and cannot unite with their families. Lack of permanent resident status makes it difficult, and often impossible, for migrants to speak up for their rights at work or access services, including those they may be eligible for, because of a well-founded fear of reprisals, termination, eviction and deportation.
• Migrants – mostly low-waged, racialized, working class people – are deemed essential but are excluded from rights. Thousands of migrants lost their lives and livelihoods in COVID-19 while working in farms, long-term care homes, construction, cleaning, and delivery work.
• Every migrant-led organization in Canada, as well as over 480 civil society organizations, are jointly calling for full and permanent immigration status for all migrants in the country, as well as permanent resident status for all on arrival in future.
• Canada recently announced an immigration target of 465,000 for permanent resident status in 2023, but less than 8,000 of those are available for low-waged migrants like seasonal agricultural workers and careworkers. In addition to low numbers, program requirements make it impossible for most to apply.
• Over 24,000 people have sent messages to Cabinet in support of permanent resident status for all: www.StatusforAll.ca

Media contact: Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org

Media Liaison(EN/FR): Mary Foster, 514-222-0205, mary@migrantworkersalliance.org. Please get in touch for a recording of the briefing. 

Trudeau Told to Act Swiftly To Implement Fair Immigration Rules to Ensure Equal Rights for 1.7 Million People

Cross-Country Migrant Coalition & Major Civil Society Groups Organizing Protests in 12 cities on September 18

Ottawa, September 14, 2022 — For the first time in half a century, Canada is moving forward on a regularization programme for undocumented migrants. A cross-country coalition of migrants has united with Canada’s largest human rights, climate, health, legal and labour organizations to call on the government to ensure permanent residency for all 1.7 million migrants with precarious status, including regularization of all 500,000 undocumented migrants. Actions in support of full regularization will take place in 12 cities across the country on Sunday, September 18, 2022 (see below for list of all the actions). Over 480 civil society organizations have already endorsed this call for immigration justice. 

Joining an online briefing today, Caroline Michael, an undocumented healthcare worker, Nigerian refugee in Toronto, and member of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change explained, “Undocumented people like me are underpaid and unfairly treated by our employers and we can’t be bold enough to report them to appropriate authorities for fear of being picked up by the police. All of us migrants should be given the right to live a human-like life and shouldn’t be treated like animals, that means permanent resident status for all, no one left out, no exemptions, no conditions. The next Parliament must make our demands their number one priority.”

Lauren Ravon, Executive Director, Oxfam Canada, emphasized that, “A regularization program that provides status to all in Canada is a triple win, it advances gender justice, reduces inequality and has numerous benefits for the economy. Canada benefits so much from the contributions of migrants and undocumented workers. The time is now to provide hundreds of thousands of people in Canada with access to rights and services for a dignified life.” 

Caroline Brouillette, National Policy Manager, Climate Action Network – Canada’s largest Climate Coalition – added, “As the climate crisis forces more and more people from their homes, ensuring equal rights for migrants is fundamental to climate justice. Transforming our unequal, exploitative system into one that ensures dignity and safety for all is a key step towards addressing Canada’s climate debt, and we urge the federal government to seize this opportunity.” 

Danilo De Leon, an undocumented former temporary foreign worker, and chairperson of Migrante Canada, from Edmonton, said, “We came here to work because you need workers. We are more than just workers that feed your economy. We are human beings who have the right to live in Canada with dignity and we need a regularization program that does not discriminate.” 

The Migrant Rights Network estimates that regularizing 500,000 undocumented workers will increase employer contributions by at least $1.1billion per year. 

Many undocumented people are unable to afford expensive healthcare, ending up sicker and impacting public health explained Pénélope Boudreault, director of national operations at Doctors of the World. “The Doctors of the World’s Medical Clinic’s team can testify to this. A safe, comprehensive and inclusive regularization program is an essential tool to guarantee the fundamental rights and health of migrants with precarious status and to promote the well-being of society as a whole”. 

There are at least 500,000 undocumented people in Canada. The vast majority are racialized. They entered on temporary work and study permits or as refugees but were not able to get permanent residency because of Canadian immigration rules, which favour people with high wages. Most others are turned away. 

Nina Gonzalez, coordinator of the Regularization Campaign of the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC), active member of the IWC’s Women’s Committee, and non-status migrant explains, “The immigration system systematically creates people without immigration status, either as a result of the refugee application being refused or because the employer has refused to extend the work permit and it expires. Loss of status is an administrative problem imposed by the system, it is not a criminal act.” 

Without full immigration status, many migrants face exploitation, even as they are deemed essential. This includes farmworkers who characterize their work as “systematic slavery”. Laurence Guénette, Coordinator of the Ligue des droits et libertés joined the call today for fair rights for all reminding Prime Minister Trudeau that, “All human rights are universal: this universality means that all human beings enjoy the same fundamental rights regardless of their status. The Canadian government must put in place a regularization program granting full and permanent status to all persons with precarious immigration status in Quebec and Canada. A universal regularization program that leaves no one behind.”

Syed Hussan from the Migrant Rights Network Secretariat added, “Prime Minister Trudeau has a choice right now: either finally ensure historic equal rights for 1.7 million people who have been oppressed and exploited by bad bosses, institutions and landlords because of Canadian immigration rules by guaranteeing permanent resident status to all, or continue to make partial, temporary changes that continue exploitation for most. Migrants and our supporters are united in our expectations that Prime Minister Trudeau will do what he knows is right”.

Actions across Canada and Media Contacts for Sunday, September 18, 2022

TORONTO, ON: Rally & March for Rights, Regularization & Status For All
Sep 18, 2:00pm, Christie Pits Park, March to Deputy PM’s Office
Contact: Rajean Hoilett, 289-923-3534, Migrant Rights Network – Ontario

MONTREAL, QC: Rally & March – Un Statut pour tous et toutes – on ne laisse personne pour compte / #StatusForAll: No One Left Behind
Sep 18, 2:00pm, Place du Canada (corner of René-Lévesque and Peel)
Media Contact: Hady Anne (En/Fr), 514 358 8836, Solidarity Across Borders

VANCOUVER, BC: Rally – Rights, Regularization, Status For All
Sep 18, 2:30 PM, Grandview Park. 1657 Charles St, Vancouver
Media Contact: Byron Cruz, Sanctuary Health, (604) 315-7725

EDMONTON, AB: Rights, Regularization, Status for All!
Sep 18, 12:00 PM, Sir Winston Churchill Square. 10404 104 Ave NW.
Media Contact: Clarizze Truscott, 780-998-2885, Migrante Alberta

OTTAWA, ON: Migrant Regularization March – Status For All!
Sep 18, 2:00 PM, Confederation Park. Elgin St and Laurier Ave W, Ottawa
Contact: Aimee Beboso, 613-255-1921, Migrante Ottawa

SUDBURY, ON: Sudbury & Region: Status For ALL – Community Gathering
Sep 18, 1:30pm, Flour Mills Community Farm. 736 Bruce Ave.
Contact: Tt Scott, communications@sudburyworkerscentre.ca, Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Centre

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE: Status for All: Reimagining PEI
Sep 18, 1pm, Victoria Park Pavilion, 36 Victoria Park Driveway
Media Contact: Ryan MacRae, ryan@cooperinstitute.ca, Cooper Institute 

MIRAMICHI, NB: Rights, Regularization, Status for All
Sep 18, 2pm, Queen Elizabeth Park Town Square. 141 rue Henry Street
Contact: Sonia Aviles, 289 990 1349, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

FREDERICTON, NB: Status for All Day of Action Fredericton – Madhu Centre Organization Launch
Sep 18, 1pm, 577 Hillcrest Drive
Media Contact: Kalum Ng,  info@madhucentre.ca, Madhu Centre

GUELPH, ON: Public Meeting: Immigration: Who Benefits? Who Suffers?
Sep 18, 3:00 PM, 10C. 42 Carden St. , 3rd Floor, Activity Room.
Media Contact: Susan Rosenthal, Guelph Justice for Workers, guelph@Justice4workers.org

CLARKSBURG, ON: Rights, Regularization, Status for All
Sep 18, 10am, Clark Street and Main Street
Media Contact: Amaris Terner, 416 417 3520

JOHN’S, NL: Status for All Picnic
Sep 18, 1pm, Bannerman Park
Media Contact: Adi Khaitan, 709-693-6032

ANTIGONISH, NS: “United We Call: Status for All!” at Antigonight: Art After Dark Festival
Sep 17, 7pm, Main Street Grounds (Scotiabank)
Media Contact: Stacey Gomez, noii.hfx@gmail.com, No one is illegal – Halifax/Kjipuktuk, Migrant Workers Program

Background

• There are at least 1.2 million people in Canada on temporary work, study or refugee claimant permits issued in Canada each year. Most migrants in low-waged work do not have access to permanent residency so eventually they are forced to either leave Canada or stay in the country undocumented. Migrant farm workers recently testified that these temporary migration schemes are “systematic slavery”. 
• Many are unable to return to sending countries because of war, discrimination, lack of economic opportunities and/or because they have built relationships in Canada. Today, there are over 500,000 undocumented people in the country. 
• As a result, there are at least 1.7 million migrants – 1 in 23 residents in Canada – who do not have equal rights.  
• Migrants are excluded from healthcare and social services and cannot unite with their families. Lack of permanent resident status makes it difficult, and often impossible, for migrants to speak up for their rights at work or access services, including those they may be eligible for, because of a well-founded fear of reprisals, termination, eviction and deportation. 
• Migrants – mostly low-waged, racialized, working class people – are deemed essential but are excluded from rights. Thousands of migrants lost their lives and livelihoods in COVID-19 while working in farms, long-term care homes, construction, cleaning, and delivery work. 
• Comprehensive regularization (a program that includes all 500,000 undocumented people) will address a historic wrong; improve working conditions by giving migrants the power to protects themselvesand; guarantee public health; and add at least $1.1 billion dollars to the public purse per year through contributions by employers who currently don’t pay taxes.  
• Canada created the “Guardian Angels” program for some refugee and undocumented healthcare workers, which expired in August 2020. The Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR to PR) program was created in May 2021, and expired in November. These programs excluded the vast majority of racialized, low-waged migrants. No permanent changes have been made to ensure immigration justice. 

Nearly 10,000 people have signed a petition in support of these demands: www.StatusforAll.ca