Personne-contact pour les médias (AN/FR): Mary Foster, 514-222-0205, mary@migrantworkersalliance.org.  Veuillez nous contacter pour obtenir un enregistrement de la conférence.

Trudeau sommé d’agir rapidement pour mettre en œuvre des règles d’immigration équitables afin de garantir l’égalité des droits pour 1,7 million de personnes

Une coalition pancanadienne de migrant.e.s et de grands groupes de la société civile organisent des manifestations dans 12 villes le 18 septembre

Ottawa, 14 septembre 2022 — Pour la première fois en un demi-siècle, le Canada va de l’avant avec un programme de régularisation pour les migrants sans papiers. Une coalition pancanadienne de migrants s’est unie aux plus grandes organisations canadiennes de défense des droits humains, climatiques, en matière de santé et de travail pour exhorter le gouvernement à garantir la résidence permanente aux 1,7 million de migrants à statut précaire, y compris la régularisation de tous les 500 000 sans-papiers. Des actions en faveur de la régularisation complète auront lieu dans 12 villes du pays le dimanche 18 septembre 2022 (voir ci-dessous la liste de toutes les actions). Plus de 480 organisations de la société civile soutiennent déjà cet appel à la justice en matière d’immigration. 

Lors d’une conférence de presse en ligne aujourd’hui, Caroline Michael, travailleuse de la santé sans papiers, réfugiée nigériane à Toronto et membre de Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, a expliqué: « Les sans-papiers comme moi, nous sommes sous-payé.e.s et traité.e.s injustement par nos employeurs et nous n’osons pas les dénoncer aux autorités compétentes de peur d’être pris.e.s par la police. Nous tous et toutes, les migrant.e.s, devrions avoir le droit de vivre une vie humaine et ne pas être traité.e.s comme des animaux, ce qui signifie un statut de résident permanent pour tous et toutes, sans exception, sans exclusion, ni conditions. Le prochain Parlement doit faire de nos revendications sa priorité numéro un.»

Lauren Ravon, directrice d’Oxfam Canada, souligne que: «Un programme de régularisation qui offre un statut à tous et toutes au Canada représente un gain triple, il fait progresser la justice en matière de genre, réduit les inégalités et présente de nombreux avantages pour l’économie. Le Canada bénéficie tellement de la contribution des migrant.e.s et des travailleurs et travailleuses sans papiers. Le temps est venu de donner à des centaines de milliers de personnes au Canada l’accès aux droits et aux services pour vivre dans la dignité.»

Caroline Brouillette, directrice des politiques nationales au Réseau Action Climat – la plus grande coalition climatique au Canada – ajoute, «Alors que la crise climatique force de plus en plus de personnes à quitter leur pays, garantir des droits égaux pour les migrant.e.s est fondamental pour la justice climatique. Transformer notre système d’exploitation et d’inégalité en un système qui garantit la dignité et la sécurité pour tous et toutes est une étape clé pour répondre à la dette climatique du Canada, et nous exhortons le gouvernement fédéral à saisir cette opportunité.»

Danilo De Leon un sans-papier anciennement travailleur étranger temporaire, et président de Migrante Canada, d’Edmonton, dit: « Nous sommes venu.e.s ici pour travailler parce que vous avez besoin de travailleurs et de travailleuses. Nous sommes plus que des travailleurs qui alimentent votre économie. Nous sommes des êtres humains qui ont le droit de vivre au Canada dans la dignité et nous avons besoin d’un programme de régularisation qui ne fasse pas de discrimination.»

Le Migrant Rights Network estime que la régularisation de 500 000 travailleurs et travailleuses sans papiers augmentera les cotisations des employeurs d’au moins 1,1 milliard de dollars par an. 

De nombreuses personnes sans papiers n’ont pas les moyens de se payer des soins de santé coûteux, ce qui les rend plus malades et a un impact sur la santé publique, explique Pénélope Boudreault, directrice des opérations nationales de Médecins du Monde. « L’équipe de la Clinique médicale de Médecins du Monde peut en témoigner. Un programme de régularisation sûr, complet et inclusif est un outil essentiel afin de garantir les droits fondamentaux et la santé des personnes migrantes à statut précaire tout en favorisant le bien-être de l’ensemble de la société ».

Il y a au moins 500 000 personnes sans papiers au Canada. La grande majorité d’entre elles sont racisées. Elles sont entrées au pays avec des permis de travail et d’études temporaires ou en tant que demandeurs d’asile, mais n’ont pas pu obtenir la résidence permanente en raison des règles d’immigration canadiennes, qui favorisent les personnes ayant des salaires élevés. La plupart des autres sont refoulées. 

Nina Gonzalez, coordinatrice de la campagne pour la régularisation du Centre de travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants, membre active du comité Femmes du CTI et migrante sans papiers, explique: « Notre système d’immigration entraîne systématiquement des personnes sans statut d’immigration, soit en conséquence du rejet de la demande d’asile ou à cause de l’expiration du permis de travail, pour lequel l’employeur a refusé la prolongation. Perte d’un statut, c’est un problème administratif imposé par le système, ce n’est pas un acte criminel. »

Sans statut d’immigration complet, de nombreux migrants et de nombreuses migrantes sont confronté.e.s à l’exploitation, même s’ils et elles sont considéré.e.s comme essentiel.le.s. Cela inclut les travailleurs et travailleuses agricoles qui qualifient leur travail d’« esclavage systématique». Laurence Guénette,coordinatrice de La Ligue des droits et libertés s’est joint à l’appel pour des droits égaux pour tous et toutes aujourd’hui, rappelant au Premier ministre Trudeau que: « Tous les droits humains sont universels : cette universalité signifie que tous les êtres humains jouissent des mêmes droits fondamentaux indépendamment de leur statut. Le gouvernement canadien doit mettre en place un programme de régularisation octroyant un statut complet et permanent, pour toutes les personnes ayant un statut migratoire précaire au Québec et au Canada. Un programme de régularisation universel, qui ne laisse personne derrière. »

Syed Hussan du Secrétariat du Migrant Rights Network a ajouté: «Le Premier ministre Trudeau a un choix à faire dès maintenant : soit assurer enfin une égalité de droits historique pour 1,7 million de personnes qui ont été opprimées et exploitées par de mauvais et mauvaises patrons, institutions et propriétaires à cause des règles d’immigration canadiennes en garantissant le statut de résident permanent à tous et toutes, soit continuer à faire des changements partiels et temporaires qui poursuivent l’exploitation pour la plupart. Les migrant.e.s et nos allié.e.s sont uni.e.s dans leurs attentes que le Premier ministre Trudeau fasse ce qu’il sait être juste ».

Actions à travers le Canada et contacts pour les médias pour dimanche le 18 septembre 2022

MONTRÉAL, QC : Rassemblement et marche – Un Statut pour tous et toutes – on ne laisse personne pour compte / #StatusForAll: No One Left Behind
18 septembre à 14h00 à la Place du Canada (coin René-Lévesque et Peel, métro Bonaventure)
Contact : Hady Anne (En/Fr), 514 358 8836, Solidarité Sans Frontières

 VANCOUVER, CB : Rassemblement – Droits, régularisation, #StatusForAll
18 septembre à 14h30, parc Grandview. 1657 rue Charles, Vancouver
Contact : Byron Cruz, Sanctuary Health, (604) 315-7725

EDMONTON, AB : Droits, régularisation, Statut pour tous et toutes!
18 septembre à 12h00, Sir Winston Churchill Square. 10404 104 Ave NW.
Contact : Clarizze Truscott, 780-998-2885, Migrante Alberta

OTTAWA, ON : Marche pour la régularisation des personnes migrantes – Statut pour tous et toutes!
18 septembre à 14h00, parc de la Confédération, rue Elgin et avenue Laurier Ouest, Ottawa
Contact : Aimee Beboso, 613-255-1921, Migrante Ottawa

SUDBURY, ON : Sudbury et la région : Statut pour TOUS ET TOUTES – Rassemblement communautaire
18 septembre à 13h30, Flour Mills Community Farm. 736 avenue Bruce
Contact : Tt Scott, communications@sudburyworkerscentre.ca, Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Center

CHARLOTTETOWN, IPE : Statut pour tous et toutes : réimaginer l’Île du Prince-Édouard
18 septembre à 13h00, Victoria Park Pavilion, 36 Victoria Park Driveway
Contact : Ryan MacRae, ryan@cooperinstitute.ca, Cooper Institute 

MIRAMICHI, NB : Droits, régularisation, Statut pour tous et toutes
18 septembre à 14h00, Queen Elizabeth Park Town Square. 141 rue Henry
Contact : Sonia Aviles, 289-990-1349, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

FREDERICTON, NB : Journée d’action à Frédéricton pour un statut pour tous et toutes -Ouverture du centre d’organisation Madhu
18 septembre à 13h00, 577 Hillcrest Drive
Contact : Kalum Ng,  info@madhucentre.ca, Madhu Centre

GUELPH, ON : Rassemblement public : Immigration : Qui en bénéficie ? Qui souffre ?
18 septembre à 15h00, 10C. 42 Carden St., 3e étage,  Activity Room.
Contact : Susan Rosenthal, Guelph Justice for Workers, guelph@Justice4workers.org

CLARKSBURG, ON : Droits, régularisation, Statut pour tous et toutes
18 septembre à 10h00, Clark Street et Main Street
Contact : Amaris Terner, 416-417-3520

ST JOHN’S, TN: Pique-nique pour un Statut pour tous et toutes
18 septembre à 13h00 au Parc Bannerman
Contact : Adi Khaitan, 709-693-6032

Mise en contexte

• Il y a au moins 1,2 million de personnes au Canada avec des permis temporaires de travail, d’étude ou de demandeur d’asile. La plupart des personnes migrantes avec des emplois à bas salaire n’ont pas accès à la résidence permanente, et elles sont donc forcées éventuellement de quitter le Canada ou de rester sans papiers dans le pays. Les travailleurs et travailleuses agricoles migrants ont récemment confirmé que ces programmes de migration temporaires sont un « esclavage systématique».
• Plusieurs ne peuvent pas revenir dans leur pays d’origine à cause de la guerre, de la discrimination, du manque d’opportunités économiques et/ou à cause des relations construites au Canada. En ce moment, il y a plus de 500 000 personnes sans papiers à travers le pays.
• Il y a donc au moins 1,7 million de personnes migrantes – un.e résident.e du Canada sur 23 – qui n’ont pas des droits égaux.
• Les personnes migrantes sont exclues des soins de santé et des services sociaux, et elles ne peuvent pas se réunir avec leurs familles. L’absence d’un statut de résident.e permanent.e rend difficile, et souvent impossible, la défense de leurs droits au travail ou l’accès aux services, incluant ceux pour lesquels elles sont éligibles, à cause d’une peur justifiée de représailles, de résiliation, d’éviction et de déportation.
• Les personnes migrantes – qui sont souvent des personnes de classe ouvrière, racisées et avec des emplois à faible salaire – sont qualifiées d’essentielles, mais sont exclues des droits. Des milliers de personnes migrantes ont perdu leurs moyens de subsistance et leur vie avec la COVID-19, en travaillant sur des fermes, des centres pour des soins de longue durée, la construction, l’entretien ménager et les services de livraison. 
• La régularisation complète (un programme qui inclut toutes les 500 000 personnes sans papiers) va redresser un tort historique, améliorer les conditions de travail en donnant aux personnes migrantes le droit de se protéger elles-mêmes, garantir la santé publique et ajouter au moins 1,1 milliard de dollars dans les coffres publics à travers les contributions par des employeurs qui ne paient pas d’impôt actuellement. 
• Le Canada a créé le programme « Anges gardiens » pour certain.e.s demandeurs d’asiles et des travailleurs et travailleuses sans statut dans le domaine de la santé, qui a expiré en août 2020. Le Programme de la résidence temporaire à la résidence permanente a été créé en mai 2021 et a expiré en novembre. Ces programmes excluaient la vaste majorité des personnes migrantes racisées et à bas salaire. Aucun changement permanent n’a été apporté afin d’assurer la justice pour les personnes migrantes.
• Près de 10 000 personnes ont signé une pétition en soutien à ces revendications : www.StatusforAll.ca 

Labour, environmental and other civil society organizations have a crucial role to play right now as we work to fundamentally transform the immigration system and correct a historic wrong. If you are part of an organization, there’s a lot you can do, including:

1. Endorse the September 18 Day of Action for Rights, Regularization and Status for All! Fill out this form to let us know. 

2. Writing a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and Immigration Minister Sean Fraser urging them to (1) Regularize all undocumented people in the country without exception and (2) Ensure that all low-wage migrants in Canada have immediate access to permanent residency. See template letters for Environmental organizations, Labour organizations and all other civil society organizations. See letters already written.

3. Share our petition – www.StatusforAll.ca – on your email lists and promote widely. See sample text you can use in your emails. Please reach out to info@migrantrights.ca if you need support.

4. Join our regular bi-weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 7pm EST to get the latest updates.

5. Encourage your members to join our upcoming actions & events.

Minister Mendicino will make an announcement regarding new “pathways for immigration” on April 14, 2021 at 1:30pm EST. Migrant Rights Network will be available for comment immediately after. 

Canada, April 13, 2021 — The Migrant Rights Network – Canada’s largest migrant led coalition with membership in 9 provinces – calls on Immigration Minister Mendicino to announce immediate permanent resident status for all 1.6 million people in the country currently without it. The Migrant Rights Network also calls on the federal government to ensure that all low-waged migrants that arrive in the future do so with permanent resident status. 

“Any multi-tier system of immigration where some have permanent residency – and therefore rights to decent work, healthcare, family unification and freedom from reprisals – while others are temporary or without status engenders exploitation. The public has seen this exposed in extreme and deadly ways during COVID-19,” says Syed Hussan from the Migrant Rights Network Secretariat. “All of us are essential, nothing short of full and permanent immigration status for all is an acceptable response to the current crisis.” 

BACKGROUND

(1) Status for All is not the same as a ‘Pathway to Immigration’. ‘Pathways’ are multi-step processes in which migrants must remain temporary for years. Temporary status means not having equal access to rights and services. Some temporary work programs tie workers to employers, creating a massive power imbalance that makes it impossible for workers to assert basic workplace rights – the abuse faced by farm workers and care workers in COVID-19 has been well documented. Study and work permit holders are often unable to access basic healthcare, income supports in times of emergency and also face labour exploitation because of limits on where and how much they can work. We do not need more temporariness. We need permanent resident status for all. 

(2) ‘Pathways’ already exist for some temporary residents (care workers, students, refugees, farmworkers, etc.), and they have proven to be nothing but minefields of abuse. ‘Pathway’ programs include educational, language and length of work requirements that are impossible to meet. These requirements breed abuse by forcing workers to accept bad working conditions in the hopes of possibly qualifying for permanent resident status one day. The recently announced ‘Guardian Angels’ program for example, excluded most occupations in healthcare, and were restricted to refugee claimants who had received a work permit. 

(3) Migrants who cannot meet the restrictive requirements of pathway programs often lose their status and are often forced to stay in Canada, excluded from almost all rights and protections. 

(4) Over 450 labour, civil society and environmental organizations and tens of thousands of people have signed a petition calling for full and permanent immigration status for all: www.StatusforAll.ca. 

(5) Migrant Rights Network demands the government meet with migrant organizations to create a Status for All program that includes at least the following:

• A moratorium on all detentions and deportations is put in place immediately to ensure undocumented people applying for status are protected. During this time, all undocumented and migrant residents in Canada should get immediate and open work authorization and full access to all basic entitlements; 
• A regularization process must be created where all migrants in the country get permanent residence status or citizenship, without any exclusions by work history, previous immigration status, health status, previous access to social assistance, criminality, and without any other language or education requirements.
• All low-waged workers arriving in Canada in the future should arrive with Permanent Resident status if they so choose.  

Media Contact:
National – Karen Cocq, Migrant Rights Network, 647-970-8464
Alberta – Vanessa Ortiz, 403-612-7396
Atlantic – Stacey Gomez, 902-9994458
British Columbia – Byron Cruz, 604-315-7725

Campaign by Solidarity Across Borders.

Immigration detention is imprisonment without trial because the federal government insists that these migrants will otherwise not show up for their deportation. Dozens are being imprisoned in Quebec even though the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has paused its deportations in Quebec because of the risks of expelling people during a global pandemic.

Please fill out your information above to send a letter and share on social media.

Share this call to action widely! Use the hashtag set #FreeThemAll #StatusForAll along with #HungerStrikeLaval to show your support for the struggle on social media! We encourage you to tag Bill Blair, Marco Mendicino, Justin Trudeau, and other government officials.

HAVE YOU LOST WORK OR INCOME BECAUSE OF COVID-19? YOU CAN GET INCOME SUPPORT!

You can get money from the Federal government’s emergency fund (CERB) if you have:

• A valid or expired Social Insurance Number (SIN)

OR

• An Individual Tax Number (ITN)

Even if your Social Insurance Number has expired and you do not have valid immigration status in Canada, you can still apply for CERB if you meet the rest of the criteria.

This is a taxable benefit. That means the government expects you to declare it on your tax return in 2021. It also means that CERB is not considered “social assistance” and will not impact your immigration applications, such as a Humanitarian and Compassionate, Sponsorship, or other Permanent Residency application. We do not know if your name or address will be shared with immigration (CBSA).

You do not need to have filed taxes in the past and you will not be asked to submit any documents at this time. However, you may be asked to provide proof that you were eligible for CERB at a later date or when you file your taxes in 2021.

If you qualify, you will receive $2,000 for four weeks. If you continue to qualify, you can re-apply three more times (for a maximum of 16 weeks). This benefit has been available since March 15th. If you met the criteria to receive CERB at any time since then, you can still apply now for these past weeks.

This information is accurate as of June 1. Things are changing constantly. Check back here regularly for updates. For media inquiries, please contact info@migrantrights.ca.

How to apply:

You can apply online or by phone.

ONLINE

(if you already have “MyAccount” or “MyServiceCanada”)

Go to: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html

You will be asked if you were self-employed or an employee. If you click “employee” then you will be asked if you were full time or part time. These questions will not disqualify you, they simply direct you to either the EI or CRA pathway for applying. You will then be asked to sign into your MyAccount / MyService Canada.

Once you have signed in, you will see the list of requirements to qualify. Click “I confirm that I meet the requirements set out above…”. You will not need to provide any documents at this time. The minimum $5000 income in the past 12 months or in 2019 can be from within or outside Canada.

If you are having trouble applying online, you can try to apply by phone. If your Social Insurance Number has expired, you may be more successful by phone.

BY PHONE

If you have filed taxes in the past, call 1-800-959-2019

• You will be asked for your SIN, Temporary Tax Number or Individual Tax Number.

If you have never filed taxes, call 1-800-959-8281

• You will be asked for your SIN, Temporary Tax Number or Individual Tax Number.

Whether you apply online or by phone, you will not need to submit documents at this time to prove you meet the requirements. The phone service is only available in English or French. If you need help to apply in another language, contact us using the form at the bottom of this page.

Frequently Asked Questions about accessing CERB:

1. What are the criteria to qualify for CERB?
   • You earned a minimum of $5,000 (before taxes) in the last 12 months or in 2019, inside or outside Canada. This can be employment or self-employment income.
   • You have lost work or income due to COVID-19, and you have earned less than $1,000 in employment or self-employment income for at least 14 days in a row.
2. If I receive CERB, will I be denied permanent resident status or will it impact my Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C) application later?
   • CERB is taxable income, which means it is not considered social assistance. You can receive CERB and it will not reduce your chances of getting permanent resident status in the future or impact your H&C application.
   • Your immigration applications may be impacted if you misrepresent the facts to other branches of government, including when applying for CERB.
3. What if I get CERB and the government later decides I was not eligible – will it impact my immigration status?
   • When you claim CERB on your taxes in 2021, if the government decides you were not eligible to receive CERB, you will be asked to repay the money. It is not a crime. The government has said there are no other consequences. It should not impact your immigration status or future applications.
4. How do I receive the money?
   • If you have “MyAccount” set up with CRA, you can choose to receive money by direct deposit. Otherwise, you can receive the money by cheque mailed to the address you provide.
5. What if I don’t have a bank account?
   • If you do not have a bank account, you can have a cheque mailed to you. You can then try to sign the cheque over to someone else (“endorse”) to cash at a bank. Or you can cash your cheque at a payday loan or cash store. These businesses might keep a large part of your money as a fee for this service. Not everyone may be able to cash a cheque, consider your options before you apply.
6. Will my address be shared with immigration enforcement?
   • We do not know if the address you provided will be shared with immigration enforcement. You have to make the best decision for you about your own safety. It is important to use an address where you can receive the cheque.
7. Will my name be shared with immigration enforcement?
   • We do not know if your personal information will be shared with immigration enforcement. You have to make the best decision for you about your own safety. Contact us if you need help.
8. Where do I find my Social Insurance Number?
   • If you ever had a work permit, study permit, or applied for refugee status in Canada, you would have received a Social Insurance Number (SIN). This is a nine digit number that started with a ‘9’. Even if your SIN has been expired for many years, you can use it to apply for CERB if you meet all other criteria.
9. How will I pay my taxes in 2021 and will it impact my immigration status?
   • The government expects you to claim CERB on your tax return in 2021.
   • If you have not filed taxes recently or ever, you may want to get help filing your tax return in 2021.

If you are having problems applying for CERB, or need support with your taxes for next year, fill out your information below and we will be in touch with more information.

With or without immigration status, we are all essential workers. We are sustaining this economy, our communities and our families. We deserve income support. But this is just a first step – we also need healthcare, workplace rights, guaranteed protection from immigration enforcement, and permanent resident status. Sign this petition by migrants and for migrants. If you are a migrant or undocumented person who wants to join with others for your rights, contact us: info@migrantrights.ca. 

GET IN TOUCH! If you are a non-permanent resident in Canada, or are stuck outside the country, and are losing income because of COVID-19, fill out this form.  

This form is managed by Migrant Workers Alliance for Change. We want to know your experiences applying. We can answer questions and connect you to local groups if you need support.  All information is confidential. We are a migrant rights organization and will not share information with the government or employers!

CANADA, April 16, 2020 – In a rare and historic moment, essential undocumented and migrant workers from across Canada and Mexico spoke out today calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to fill the gaps that exclude them from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). Migrant Rights Network – Canada’s only migrant led national body – released a letter outlining solutions to ensure income for 1.8 million migrants in the country. 

Laura Lopez, a mother of two from Vancouver and a member of Sanctuary Health, is one of over half a million people in Canada who are undocumented. She’s calling for CERB to be accessible to people without Social Insurance Numbers. 

“My biggest fear is that we are going to end up on the street, us and our two kids,” she said. “People like us, working in construction or cleaning, we are essential workers. Help in this crisis must be universal.” 

Laura’s story is echoed across the country. Lisa Cheun, a member of Butterfly, is a refugee claimant without a work permit in Toronto who worked at a massage parlour until businesses were shut down this month. 

“I paid more than $4000 in income taxes just in March. But I cannot get the government funding support because I have not obtained my work permit this year. But I have lost my job and have no income. What can I do now?” 

The Social Insurance Numbers of temporary residents expire alongside their work and study permits. A valid SIN is necessary to access the CERB program. 

Alina Przybyl is a Polish student at Toronto’s George Brown College in the Assaulted Women and Children’s Counselling program and a member of Migrant Students United. She applied for a renewal of her study permit three months ago, and is still waiting for it. SIN renewal will take another three months. 

“In a time of a global crisis, when we keep hearing that ‘we are in this together’, but many of us are still facing barriers. We are all affected and we should all be supported, regardless of our immigration status,” added the former restaurant worker, who recently lost her jobs both on and off campus because of COVID-19. 

In order to flatten the curve, everyone needs to follow public health directives. But without income, undocumented and migrant workers are some of the most at risk for losing housing, access to food and healthcare. 

The problem extends beyond Canada’s borders. Tens of thousands of essential migrant agricultural workers are unable or afraid to travel. Lost incomes are throwing families into crisis the world over.

“I have been coming to Canada to work for 17 years. But, because of COVID19, I have not been able to travel to Canada to work. I think it is only fair and that I have a right to receive government support because, like any Canadian worker, I have a Social Insurance Number,” says Gustavo Antonio, a migrant farm worker member of RAMA who works in the Okanagan Valley and is still waiting to travel. 

“In a public health emergency, we cannot protect anyone if we do not protect everyone. Over half a million workers are in a state of abject despair. Immediate comprehensive government action is necessary,” added Syed Hussan, Executive Director, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change. “Most migrant and undocumented people are essential workers that are caring for all of us, and keeping the economy moving right now. They cannot be allowed to go hungry and die because they don’t have an active Social Insurance Number. We have a solution and are calling on the government to meet with us to ensure migrants get the support they need and status now.” 

Nearly 5,000 people and many national organizations have signed on to Migrant Rights Network’s calls: www.MigrantRights.ca/COVID19. 

###

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

Video of today’s press conference available. 

BACKGROUND

Migrant Rights Network is calling on the Federal Government to meet with migrant-led organizations to create mechanisms to:

1. Ensure residents without Social Insurance Numbers have access to Canada Emergency Response Benefit through the provision of accessible Individual Tax Numbers where information is not shared with immigration authorities. 
2. Extend access to CERB for those whose SIN has expired. 
3. Ensure that Seasonal TFWP and SAWP workers have access to income supports for delays in contracts, both inside and outside the country. 
4. Ensure that migrant workers who are forced to leave jobs or those that aren’t starting contracts right now are not deemed to have “quit voluntarily” and receive income supports. 
5. Extend income supports to migrant and undocumented residents who did not earn at least $5,000 in the previous 12 months. 

Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s Migrant Coalition, and includes Butterfly (Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network), Caregivers’ Action Centre, Centre des travailleuses et travailleurs immigrants, Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto, Collaborative Network to End Exploitation, Cooper Institute and the Prince Edward Island Action Team for Migrant Workers’ Rights, Durham Region Migrant Solidarity Network, FCJ Refugee House, Fuerza Migrante Vancouver, GABRIELA Ontario, IAVGO Community Legal Clinic, Income Security Advocacy Centre, Migrant Students United, Migrant Worker Solidarity Network – Manitoba, Migrant Workers Alliance – Niagara, Ontario, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, Migrante (Alberta, BC, Canada, Manitoba, Ontario), No One Is Illegal (Toronto, Halifax, London, Vancouver), Migrant Resource Centre Canada, OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, OHIP For All, PCLS Community Legal Clinic, Radical Action with Migrants in Agriculture (RAMA), Okanagan region, BC, Sanctuary Health, Solidarity Across Borders, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, UFCW Canada, UNIFOR, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights, Workers Action Centre and Workers United

CANADA, April 16, 2020 – Undocumented and migrant workers from across Canada and Mexico are calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to fill the gaps that exclude them from Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). Essential agricultural and domestic workers, cleaners, construction workers, small business owners, students, and parents are calling for CERB to be made available to those without valid Social Insurance Numbers. At least 1 in 22 people in Canada (over 1.8 million people) are migrants. 

• WHAT: Online Press Conference for Income Supports for All Essential Workers
• WHEN: TODAY: 1pm EST, 10am PST, 2pm AST, Thursday, April 16, 2020
• WHERE: Registration required: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fnHz8altRbKs9dYQIcQFTA 
• WHO: Laura Lopez (Undocumented mother of 2, Vancouver – Member: Sanctuary Health); Cesar F (Undocumented construction worker, expectant father, Toronto); Alina Przybyl (Migrant student with an expired SIN, Toronto – Member: Migrant Students United ); Gustavo Antonio (Migrant farmworker stranded in Mexico – Member: RAMA); Liliana Trejo (Undocumented temp agency worker, single mother, Montreal – Member: Immigrant Workers Centre); Lisa Cheung (Undocumented massage parlour worker, Toronto – Member: Butterfly); Danilo Dee (Former Temporary Foreign Worker, father of 2, Edmonton – Member: Migrante Alberta); Julie Diesta (Member – Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights); Syed Hussan (Executive Director, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change). 

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

BACKGROUND

• In order to flatten the curve, everyone needs to follow public health directives. But without income, undocumented and migrant workers are some of the most at risk for losing housing, access to food and healthcare. 
• Over half a million people in Canada are undocumented, without Social Insurance Numbers (SIN). Many have lost income during COVID-19 and are suffering. 
• There are 1.3 million study and work permit holders, and refugee claimants in Canada. Their SIN begins with ‘9’ and expires along with their immigration permits. To renew a SIN, immigration permits must be renewed. COVID-19 has created enormous delays in permit processing, and hundreds of thousands of workers are being left without valid permits and SINs. 
• Migrants and undocumented people are over-represented in essential industries. They work in agriculture, cleaning, in long term care facilities, grocery stores, restaurants, warehouses, domestic work and as truck drivers and delivery workers. 
• Migrant and undocumented workers pay retail tax on purchases, and property taxes through rent. Most pay income tax, EI and CPP. 
• 42.9% of non-permanent residents are low-income (as compared to 12.5% of non-immigrants, and 17.9% of immigrants). They are therefore extremely vulnerable to economic crises – a single missed paycheque causes irreversible harm to health, safety, and future life possibilities.
• Like other low-wage workers, migrant and undocumented workers spend the majority of their income on rent, basic necessities, food and transportation. As such, they play a critical role in sustaining and growing local economies. When income disappears for the poorest, the effects are amplified across the entire economy. 
• The Migrant Rights Network continues to call for healthcare for all, enhanced worker protections, open work permits and permanent resident status for all, an end to detentions and deportations, expanded community supports for migrants, and justice for Indigenous and racialized people around the world. See our full petition: www.MigrantRights.ca/COVID19. These demands have been endorsed by Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Federation of Students, 350 Canada and more. 

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Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s Migrant Coalition, and includes Butterfly (Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network), Caregivers’ Action Centre, Centre des travailleuses et travailleurs immigrants, Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto, Collaborative Network to End Exploitation, Cooper Institute and the Prince Edward Island Action Team for Migrant Workers’ Rights, Durham Region Migrant Solidarity Network, FCJ Refugee House, Fuerza Migrante Vancouver, GABRIELA Ontario, IAVGO Community Legal Clinic, Income Security Advocacy Centre, Migrant Students United, Migrant Worker Solidarity Network – Manitoba, Migrant Workers Alliance – Niagara, Ontario, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, Migrante (Alberta, BC, Canada, Manitoba, Ontario), No One Is Illegal (Toronto, Halifax, London, Vancouver), Migrant Resource Centre Canada, OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, OHIP For All, PCLS Community Legal Clinic, Radical Action with Migrants in Agriculture (RAMA), Okanagan region, BC, Sanctuary Health, Solidarity Across Borders, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, UFCW Canada, UNIFOR, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights, Workers Action Centre and Workers United

Cross-Country Migrants Alliance Calls for Monitoring and Enforcement of Employers to Ensure Workers Can Protect their Health, Receive Income and Make Complaints During Quarantine. 

CANADA, April 1, 2020 – The Migrant Rights Network – Canada’s migrant alliance – calls on the federal government to immediately require employers of migrant workers to provide adequate health and safety protections and income to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Already, 75 workers – 63 of them migrant farmworkers – in Kelowna, BC, have been affected as a direct result of substandard housing and working conditions. Tens of thousands of workers are expected to arrive in Canada in the coming days. The federal government has created ‘guidelines’ for employers which have not been made public, and no monitoring and enforcement mechanism has been created. The Migrant Rights Network has sent a detailed letter to the federal government outlining necessary changes and requesting consultation in order to create regulations that ensure worker rights and safety, as part of our broader demands for migrant justice during COVID-19. 

“Unsafe housing and lack of labour and immigration rights has put migrant farm workers at immense risk,” says Byron Cruz from Sanctuary Health in Vancouver. “Already workers in Kelowna have become infected because of lack of enforceable quarantine requirements. We are worried about the lack of plans from the relevant health authorities to provide adequate access to healthcare for migrant workers. Currently, Sanctuary Health is supporting workers who are in quarantine on several farms. Workers have been abandoned by employers and are relying on the support of community groups for food. We demand an immediate audit of the measures taken by farms, and that workers have input on establishing appropriate quarantine requirements that uphold migrant dignity.” 

“In order to avert a human rights crisis, we need swift action to ensure employers are providing adequate quarantine measures – this includes a monitoring and enforcement unit, real penalties for violating standards, and a mechanism for workers to safely file complaints,” added Syed Hussan, Executive Director of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change. “This crisis has made it urgently clear that employer and government negligence to ensure decent housing and working conditions must end. We need national housing standards for migrant workers, and permanent resident status for all migrants, refugees and undocumented people now. We cannot risk having tiered access to health and income supports for people on the basis of immigration status. In a public health crisis, we cannot protect anyone if we do not protect everyone.” 

Download our full letter here. 

Ensuring Migrant Worker Safety During Quarantine Includes: 

• Enforceable requirements on employers, and a monitoring and enforcement unit to ensure these requirements are met before workers arrive. 
• Employers must be required to enable self-isolation and quarantining, provide healthcare information in a worker’s language of choice, and connect workers to local public health services. Employers must ensure adequate housing, hygiene products and meals for workers during their quarantine period without deductions. Workers must be paid during quarantine, and income supports provided for workers who haven’t arrived or arrived late. 
• These requirements must apply from the moment workers depart their home countries, throughout their travel to Canada, and through travel from airports to workplaces. If workers are housed in hotels, these requirements must extend to travel from hotels to workplaces. 
• A 24-hour accessible telephone hotline and web interface must be established for workers to confidentially and anonymously make complaints about employer non-compliance in their own languages, or by third parties such as migrant worker support organizations. 
• The enforcement division must do swift, unannounced inspections on employers where complaints have been made, in coordination with local public health officials.
• All health assessments and follow-up support must be done by public health officials. 
• Healthcare must be guaranteed in all provinces, without the need for a health card, through emergency changes to the Interim Federal Health program or expanded provincial health transfers. 
• These requirements must be made available to workers and worker rights organizations in advance of workers travelling to Canada and at the port of entry, with information on how workers can assert their rights and make anonymous complaints, available in appropriate languages. 

Migrant Rights Network – Food & Farm Worker Working Group Organizers are available for comment: 

• National Coordination, Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change. 
• Sanctuary Health, Vancouver, Byron Cruz, 604-315-7725
• Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrant-e-s, Montreal, Français seulment, Viviana Medina, 438-881-9174
• RAMA, Central Okanagan, Amy Cohen, 250-309-5698 or  Robyn Bunn, 250-215-1033
• Migrant Workers Alliance – Niagara, Kit Andres, 905-324-2840

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Migrant Rights Network Members: Butterfly (Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network), Caregivers’ Action Centre, Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto, Centre des travailleuses et travailleurs immigrants, Collaborative Network to End Exploitation, Cooper Institute/PEI Action Team, Fuerza Migrante Vancouver, Migrant Students United, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change*, Migrante Alberta, Migrante BC, Migrante Canada, Migrante Manitoba, Migrante Ontario, Migrant Workers Alliance – Niagara, No One Is Illegal – Halifax, No One Is Illegal – London, No One Is Illegal – Vancouver, OHIP For All, Radical Action with Migrants in Agriculture, Sanctuary Health, Solidarity Across Borders, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Worker and Caregiver Rights, Workers Action Centre. *Migrant Workers Alliance for Change includes Asian Community Aids Services, Durham Region Migrant Solidarity Network, FCJ Refugee House, GABRIELA Ontario, IAVGO Community Legal Clinic, Income Security Advocacy Centre, No One Is Illegal – Toronto, Northumberland Community Legal Centre, OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, PCLS Community Legal Clinic, SALCO Community Legal Clinic, UFCW, UNIFOR and Workers United, as well as a number of organizations listed as separate members. 

We are in a critical moment! 

On Wednesday, the Federal government approved an emergency fund for workers impacted by the COVID19 crisis. It’s called the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and it replaces the programs announced by the government last week. CERB will give $2000/month to workers who have lost their jobs or income because of COVID19. It will be available in early April and money should start arriving within two weeks of applying.

Now the Prime Minister and other Federal Ministers (Cabinet) will be finalizing the details of how people can access  the program. 

These details are crucial. What you do now can help ensure hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, undocumented people and workers earning cash receive the financial support they so desperately need. 

Name, you need to call Cabinet Ministers and tell them to ensure everyone receives comprehensive income support immediately regardless of immigration status.

Use the form above and we will connect you! Your call WILL make a difference.  

Already our actions are working. On Monday, hundreds of us called Trudeau and  Members of Parliament. Migrant workers across the country – and many from abroad – made the calls too. As a result, the law passed on Wednesday promises income supports for residents, not just ‘Canadians’. The government has said that some migrant workers and students can apply for this fund!

This is a major step forward, but it’s not enough. The government has said it will be asking for Social Insurance Numbers when workers apply for support. This will exclude undocumented people, workers in transition from one kind of permit to another, and workers recently arriving who have not received their SIN yet. The fund will be administered through the Canada Revenue Agency, and this will discourage many people from applying.

We need Cabinet to make rules that ensure everyone, regardless of Social Insurance Number, immigration status, or whether they feel comfortable using the CRA system, can get the supports they need. Yesterday, a majority of migrant groups in Canada sent a letter to Cabinet. Read it here.

Now it’s your turn. Call now! Decisions about how this fund will be administered are being made right now,  so we have no time to lose! Let let your friends, and us, know by tagging @MigrantRightsCA on facebook, twitter or instagram.

Nearly 10,000 migrant women are working in Canada today, taking care of Canadian families. Migrant women raise children and tend to the sick and elderly.

Migrant women like Winnie Waithira. Winnie has worked in Ontario since September 2014. She worked 60 hour weeks without a break, and sometimes without pay. She still managed to complete all the requirements to apply for permanent residency and reunite with her family. Despite all this, she has been denied permanent residency.

Winnie hasn’t stayed silent. Along with racialized women migrant workers across Canada, she’s part of Landed Status Now – a migrant care worker campaign for immigration and labour rights. They have already won victories, and ensured rights and status for workers facing deportation. But the work isn’t done.

Right now, many Care Workers are fighting unfair language and educational barriers that make it impossible for them to get Permanent Residency. They are calling on the Immigration Minister to change the rules. Add your voice to theirs!

Sign the petition for Landed Status Now!

Migrant care workers in Canada were the first group of migrant workers to get a path to permanent resident status in 1981 as a direct result of Caribbean domestic women’s organizing. Today, again, it is migrant care workers at the forefront of the migrant justice struggle.

Women migrant workers are not just in care work, but also work in farms, factories, retail fisheries, and sex work; they are students, refugees and sometimes undocumented. They all face economic gender-based exploitation. Census data shows that migrant women workers earn just 31 cents for every dollar that a male permanent resident or citizen earns. The situation is not that much better for citizens: racialized women who are citizens in Canada earn 59 cents for every dollar earned by non-racialized men.

Gender inequality is the hidden engine of the economy. For workers to work, they must be fed and clothed; children must be raised; homes cleaned and elders cared for. This mostly unwaged work falls to women. It is this unwaged work that subsidizes the wealthy. It is how the rich get richer – today 2,153 billionaires have more wealth than 4.6 billion people!

The richest few in Canada get richer from on-going colonialism. Central to this plunder is the oil and gas industry that brings with them “man-camps” which increase violence against Indigenous women. This is one of the reasons the Wet’suwet’en in British Columbia are opposing the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline. Thousands of Indigenous women and girls have been murdered or disappeared in Canada – this is a genocide. This is why today on International Women’s Day, we are in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en and call for an end to violence against Indigenous women.

Those at the top push divisions. Today, on International Working Women’s Day we must unite with working women, sex workers, trans women, homeless women, racialized women, and women in the Global South.

Just as care workers lead the migrant justice movement, women also lead environmental struggles, worker rights fights, movements against war and displacement, and more. Today, and every day, we unite under women’s leadership, we fight, we win.

March 8, 2020

Canada – The cross-country alliance Migrant Rights Network is holding Canada-wide actions on June 16 to put forward a pro-migrant and anti-racist agenda in advance of the federal elections. June 16 is International Domestic Workers Day and Father’s Day. Many migrants are unjustly separated from their families, and domestic workers continue to be harmed by federal and provincial laws that deny them full rights and permanent resident status. Ahead of the federal election, migrants and allies are ringing the alarm on the increasing use of racist and xenophobic rhetoric as a vote wining strategy. The Migrant Rights Network is calling on all political parties to committ to status for all, decent work, quality universal public services, end to discrimination, and a stop to policies of displacement.

Cross-Canada Media Contacts:
EN: Syed Hussan, 416 453 3632, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org
FR/ES: Karen Cocq, 647 970 8464, karen@migrantworkersalliance.org

Affiliated rallies / creative actions and marches are planned in:

• Fredericton – 7pm, June 16, City Hall, Tabatha Armstrong 506.453.4875 (No One Is Illegal Fredericton)
• Guelph – 12pm, June 16, Mandy Hiscocks, 519.731.4179 (OPIRG Guelph)
• Halifax – 2pm, June 16, Garrison Grounds, Citadel Hill
• Kelowna – 12pm, June 16, Dayton Street Overpass over Harvey Avenue. Luis Diaz, 250.826.1551 (RAMA)
• London – 1pm, June 16, Victoria Park
• Montreal – 2pm, June 16, Parc Nelson Mandela, Romina Hernandez-Gomez, (514) 560-0673 (Solidarity Across Borders)
• Ottawa – 2pm, June 16, Dundonald Park – Karen Cocq, 647 970 8464 (Migrant Workers Alliance)
• Peterborough – 2pm, June 16, Confederation Park
• Toronto – 2pm, June 16, Grange Park – Syed Hussan, 416 453 3632 (Migrant Worker Alliance)
• Winnipeg – 1pm, June 15. Canadian Museum for Human Rights
• Vancouver – For migrant workers only, by invitation. Byron Cruz – (604) 315-7725 and Lorina Serafico – (604) 618-3649

  See full details at www.migrantrights.ca/June16 (more added daily)

Background

#UniteAgainstRacism Demands:

• STATUS FOR ALL: Permanent resident status and family unity for all migrants and refugees here, and landed status on arrival for those that arrive in the future. No detentions, no deportations!
• DECENT WORK: $15 minimum wage, full labour rights for all and no employer specific or time limited work permits.
• UNIVERSAL SERVICES: Full access to quality public services including healthcare, education, income security, childcare, pensions, and more for all residents.
• NO DISCRIMINATION: Indigenous self-determination, gender justice, and an end to racism, particularly anti-Black racism and Islamophobia.
• NO DISPLACEMENT: An end to practices and policies further climate change, wars, corporate impunity, dirty mining and economic exploitation which force people to migrate.

Media Contact National (local contacts listed below):
EN: Syed Hussan, 416 453 3632, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org
FR: Karen Cocq, 647-9708464, karen@migrantworkersalliance.org

Cross Canada Network Launches to Fight Racism and Anti-Immigrant Hysteria in Election Year

Canada – New Zealand mosque shooting with 49 murders and counting has given intense urgency in Canada which faced a similar mosque shooting in 2017 in Quebec. With actions planned from Halifax to Vancouver, a new cross-country alliance, the Migrant Rights Network is launching March 21, International Day for the Elimination of Racism, to counter fake news about Canada’s immigration system, and urgently demand pro-immigrant and anti-racist laws. The Migrant Rights Network is led by grassroots migrant and refugee groups, civil society organizations and labour unions. March 21 marks the beginning of a national dialogue to create a Platform for Racial and Migrant Justice ahead of the federal election. All social, environmental and labour groups in Canada are invited to participate in this process.

Following the March 21 #UniteAgainstRacism mobilization, actions are also called for May 1, 2019 (International Workers Day); June 16, 2019 (Father’s Day & International Domestic Workers Day); and September 2, 2019 (Labour Day). More information can be found on www.migrantrights.ca

Initial details and media contacts for #UniteAgainstRacism Week of Action (March 17-24)
More actions being announced everyday at https://migrantrights.ca/en/march21/

March 17, 2019

NIAGARA – 2pm, 1665 Four Mile Creek Rd
Sonia Aviles, 289-990-4519

March 20, 2019

PETERBOROUGH – 6pm, Confederation Park

March 21, 2019

HALIFAX – 4:30pm, Halifax Convention Centre
Stacey Gomez, 902 999 4458

MONTREAL – 10am, 200 Rene Levesque
Niel La Dode, 438-505-4820; Viviana Carol Velazquez, 514-342-2111

TORONTO – 5:30pm, Nathan Phillips Square
Syed Hussan, 416 453 3632

VANCOUVER – 6:30pm, Alma VanDusen Room, 350 West Georgia Street
Chris Perry Sorio, 416-828-0441

March 23, 2019

LETHBRIDGE – 12pm, City Hall

EDMONTON – 6pm, 11834 Kingsway Avenue – Note this event is a fundraiser
Marco Luciano, 780-966-5908

March 24, 2019

MONTREAL – 2pm, Saint-Laurent Station
Safa Chebbi, 438-497-4243

OTTAWA – 2pm, 166 Frank Street
Aimee Beboso, 613-255-1921

BACKGROUND

Migrant and racial justice organizations are coming together as the Migrant Rights Network to intervene in an increasingly divisive and alarmingly dangerous political environment.

n Canada, police reported hate crimes went up 47% in 2017. At least 300 known white supremacist organizations are currently active across the country. Over 70% of the migrants in Canada are denied full access to basic labour or social rights because of unfair temporary permits. Women of colour continue to earn far less than white men. Black and Indigenous communities are unfairly targeted by police and imprisonment. Racialized people are shut out of basic services. Meanwhile, anti-immigrant populist messaging by federal political parties increased dramatically during the recent by-elections. Clearly, Canada is not immune to the racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric which was central to national elections in the United States, and in many countries in Western Europe. Uniting against racism now is the only way forward.

THE MIGRANT RIGHTS NETWORK DEMANDS

STATUS FOR ALL, STATUS NOW: Permanent resident status and family unity for all migrants and refugees here, and landed status on arrival for those that arrive in the future. Replace Caregiver “pilot project” with a Federal Care Workers Program that provides landed status upon entry for Care Workers and their families. No detentions, no deportations!

DECENT WORK: $15 minimum wage, full labour rights and no employer specific or time limited work permits.

UNIVERSAL SERVICES: Full access to quality public services including healthcare, education, income security, childcare settlement services, pensions, and more for all residents.

JUST SOCIETY: Indigenous self-determination, gender justice, and an end to racism, particularly anti-Black racism and Islamophobia.

NO DISPLACEMENT: An end to practices of displacement and persecution that force people to migrate including climate change, wars, corporate impunity and economic exploitation.

Les consultations sont facilitées par le lobbyiste bien connu des employeurs agricoles Hill & Knowlton Canada

CANADA – Les organisations de travailleurs agricoles migrants du Canada sont indignées par les consultations à huis clos sur les changements dans le volet agricole du Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires qui ont exclu les travailleurs et qui refusent de se concentrer sur les préoccupations des travailleurs. Le gouvernement fédéral a entamé des réunions sur invitation seulement avec les groupes de pression des grandes entreprises à la fin du mois de mai. Les groupes de travailleurs migrants ont été invités tardivement ou pas du tout, malgré les demandes répétées à faire partie des discussions.

« Il serait impensable que le gouvernement fédéral élabore des règlements susceptibles d’influer sur les enjeux concernant les femmes et n’invite pas les femmes à la table, mais il se sent à l’aise d’exclure les travailleurs agricoles migrants et leurs défenseurs des règles et politiques qui influent profondément sur leurs vies. C’est incroyable », affirme Joey Calugay du Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants au Québec. « Les travailleurs migrants méritent une place à la table, et ils veulent le droit à un statut permanent à l’arrivée. »

Les travailleurs migrants du secteur primaire de l’agriculture sont limités à travailler uniquement pour l’employeur indiqué sur leur permis de travail. Ils sont en grande partie autorisés à vivre uniquement dans des logements contrôlés par l’employeur. Dans certaines provinces, ils sont exclus ou soumis à des restrictions en matière de négociation collective et sont souvent exemptés du salaire minimum, des heures supplémentaires et d’autres normes fondamentales d’emploi. Les employeurs sont autorisés à licencier et renvoyer chez eux les travailleurs agricoles migrants s’ils sont blessés ou tombent malades. Les travailleurs paient la plupart des impôts, mais ils n’obtiennent souvent pas l’accès total à l’assurance-emploi, au RPC ou à d’autres droits. C’est pourquoi les organisations de travailleurs agricoles migrants à travers le Canada sont unifiées en demandant le statut de résident permanent à l’arrivée, ainsi que les pleins droits du travail et l’accès aux droits sociaux.

« Le déséquilibre des pouvoirs entre les travailleurs agricoles migrants et les employeurs est bien documenté, et toute réforme significative doit commencer par des conversations avec les travailleurs migrants ainsi que leurs organisations à un moment et à un endroit où les travailleurs peuvent participer, dans une langue avec laquelle ils sont à l’aise, puis avec des garanties qu’il n’y aura pas de représailles de la part des employeurs », ajoute Diwa Marcelino, de Migrante du Manitoba.

Ces consultations, qui incluent des décideurs fédéraux et provinciaux, sont facilitées par Hill and Knowlton Strategies, un cabinet de lobbying qui représente les intérêts des employeurs agricoles partout au Canada. Ceci est un conflit d’intérêts flagrant. En 2017, Hill and Knowlton a exercé 53 pressions auprès d’Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada, souvent au nom de différents employeurs et groupes organisations de lobbying d’employeurs.

« Il n’y a pas de travailleurs migrants dans les salles pour ces conversations, ce sont principalement des employeurs et cela est facilité par leurs propres lobbyistes. Comment des changements significatifs qui reflètent les besoins des travailleurs migrants peuvent-ils venir de ce processus? », Demande Syed Hussan de Migrant Workers Alliance for Change de l’Ontario. « Nous demandons au Ministre Hajdu et au Ministre Hussen d’intervenir et de relancer ce processus, cette fois-ci avec l’implication des travailleurs migrants, et de veiller à ce que nous discutions du statut permanent à l’atterrissage comme solution. »

« Les travailleurs migrants cultivent de la nourriture et nourrissent des familles, leurs vies méritent le respect, puis leur travail mérite notre admiration et notre soutien, ce qui doit inclure leur participation aux décisions qui ont une incidence sur leurs vies », a déclaré Byron Cruz de Sanctuary Health à Vancouver, C.-B. « Le problème fondamental du Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires est le manque de droits d’immigrations et du travail, et la première étape pour le corriger est l’accès au statut de résident permanent à l’arrivée ».

DISPONIBLE POUR COMMENTER

• Joey Calugay, Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants, Québec, 514-947-3662
• Syed Hussan, Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada, Toronto, 416-453-3632
• Byron Cruz, Sanctuary Health, Colombie-Britannique, 604-315-7725
• Andrew Stevens, Migrant Work Saskatchewan & University of Regina, 306-552-9330
• Diwa Marcelino, Migrante Manitoba, 204-218-7100
• Robyn Bunn, RAMA, Kelowna, Colombie-Britannique, 250-215-1033

Consultations are being facilitated by well-known agricultural employer lobbyist Hill & Knowlton Canada

CANADA – Migrant agricultural worker organizations across Canada are outraged at closed door consultations on changes to the agricultural stream of the temporary foreign worker program which have shut out workers, and which refuse to focus on worker concerns. The federal government began invitation-only meetings with big business lobby groups in late May. Migrant worker groups have either been invited late or not at all, despite repeated requests to be part of the discussions.

“The power imbalance between migrant agricultural workers and employers is well documented, and any meaningful reforms must begin with conversations with migrant workers and their organizations at a time and place where workers can participate, in a language they are comfortable in, and with guarantees that there won’t be employer reprisals,” says Diwa Marcelino of Migrante from Manitoba.

Migrant workers in the primary agriculture stream are restricted to working only for the employer listed on their work permit. They are in large part allowed to only live in employer-controlled housing. In some provinces they are excluded from, or face restrictions on collective bargaining, and are often exempted from minimum wage, overtime hours, and other basic employment standards. Employers are allowed to fire and send migrant agricultural workers home if they are injured or fall sick. Workers pay most taxes but often can’t get full access to EI, CPP or other entitlements. This is why migrant agricultural worker organizations across Canada are unified in calling for permanent residency status on arrival, as well as full labour rights and access to social entitlements.  

“It would be unthinkable for the the federal government to craft regulations that might affect women’s issues and not invite women to the table, but they feel comfortable excluding migrant agricultural workers and their advocates from rules and policies that deeply impact their lives. It’s unbelievable,” says Joey Calugay of the Immigrant Workers Centre in Quebec. “Migrant workers deserve a seat at the table, and they want the right to permanent status upon landing.”

These consultations, which include federal and provincial policy makers, are being facilitated by Hill and Knowlton Strategies, a lobbying firm that has represented the interests of agricultural employers throughout Canada. This is a gross conflict of interest. In 2017, Hill and Knowlton lobbied Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 53 times, often on behalf of different employer and employer lobby organizations.

“There are no migrant workers in the rooms for these conversations, it’s mostly employers and it’s being facilitated by their own lobbyists. How can any meaningful changes that reflect the needs of migrant workers come from this process?” asks Syed Hussan of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change from Ontario. “We are calling on Minister Hajdu and Minister Hussen to step in and restart this process, this time with migrant worker involvement, and ensure that we are discussing permanent status on landing as a solution.”

“Migrant workers grow food, and feed families, their lives deserve respect and their work deserves our admiration and support which must include their involvement in decisions that impact their lives,” said Byron Cruz from Sanctuary Health in Vancouver, BC. “The fundamental problem with the temporary foreign worker program is the lack of immigration and labour rights, and the first step to correcting it is access to permanent residency status on arrival.”

AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT

• Joey Calugay, Immigration Workers Centre, Quebec, 514-947-3662
• Syed Hussan, Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada, Toronto, 416-453-3632
• Byron Cruz, Sanctuary Health, British Columbia, 604-315-7725
• Andrew Stevens, Migrant Work Saskatchewan & University of Regina, 306-552-9330
• Diwa Marcelino, Migrante Manitoba, 204-218-7100
• Robyn Bunn, RAMA, Kelowna, British Columbia, 250-215-1033

Toronto, April 16, 2018 – Organizations representing key groups of immigrants excluded from Canada due to medical inadmissibility are very disappointed in today’s announcement by Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen for not repealing Section 38(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. This section denies permanent residency to an entire family if a member of the family is sick or has a disability and deemed to pose an “excessive demand” on health and social services.

Today’s modest gains are the result of many years of affected people and our organizations calling for an end to these discriminatory laws. Our advocacy resulted in a review by the federal Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in 2017, which ultimately echoed our recommendation for a full repeal. Instead of taking this principled position, the Immigration Minister Hussen today announced only minor tweaks to the existing, and deeply flawed, regime.

Minnister Hussen’s announcement continues to uphold discriminatory medical inadmissibility laws. Today’s changes that promise to increase the cost threshold and amend the definition of social services, if properly implemented, may ensure that many future immigrants living with HIV and some people with disabilities may no longer be excluded. However, the underlying issue remains: people with disabilities continue to be considered as burdens on Canadian society. Today’s announcement  also fails to address retroactive cases, such that all of the applicants currently in Canada who are separated from family members with disabilities remain in limbo. It is important to note that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, which recommended the repeal of the law in late 2017, noted that “savings [from this law] are not known and were not provided to the Committee.” The Government of Canada, while explicitly agreeing with the Standing Committee’s recommendation to repeal this legislation, has failed to bring its policies in line with inclusivity for persons with disabilities and with Canada’s domestic and international human rights obligations.

For comments:

Anna Malla, Coordinator, Caregivers Action Centre, 647-782-6633
James Hicks, National Coordinator, Council of Canadians With Disabilities, 343-291-1118
John Rae, 1st Vice Chair, Council of Canadians With Disabilities, 416-941-1547
Joshua Terry, Communications and Campaigns Officer, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, 416 595-1666 ext. 236
Natalie Drolet, Executive Director, Migrant Workers Centre, 604.669.4482, ext 104.

As a result of organizing by people with Disabilities and their families, and with your support, in 2017, the Standing Committee for Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) issued a report to Parliament recommending the repeal of the medical inadmissibility regime. The Minister of Immigration, the Honourable Minister Ahmed Hussen, has himself agreed that this policy must be changed. He will be announcing these changes on April 12th. 

Lets make sure that he follows the Committee’s recommendation and repeals the law rather than tweaking it. 

Members of Parliament need to hear from residents in their riding urging them to repeal Section 38(1)(c) of IRPA. It’s your turn to act.

Here’s what to do:

1. Find the contact of your local MP: http://www.ourcommons.ca/parliamentarians/en/constituencies/FindMP
2. Email them as soon as possible requesting a meeting.
3. Follow up with a phone call requesting a meeting.
4. If you have a meeting confirmed, please let us know at info@migrantrights.ca
5. At the appointed time, go to the meeting. Make sure to read this memo in advance and leave a copy with the MP
6. Take a picture with the MP and send it to us at info@migrantrights.ca so we can remind them that they committed to acting on this issue.

Download this TOOLKIT

It includes sample emails to request a meeting, phone scripts, agendas for a meeting and what to say. Please get in touch if you have more questions.

Here’s a backgrounder to share with your MP and for you to be apprised of the facts.

Please download, read, and print.

Toronto — Caregiver and migrant rights organizations are calling on Federal Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen to immediately repeal Section 38(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act following a report by the Parliamentary Citizenship and Immigration Committee’s report which called for the repeal. The report also proposed interim measures, but migrant rights organizations insist that interim measures would uphold a fundamentally discriminatory system. More than a thousand people and organizations have signed an Open Letter in support of these demands.

“Denying permanent residency to entire families was never fair or just, thousands of people have suffered under this law already and hundreds of families are waiting to be reunited, there is no time for delay, it is time to repeal Section 38(1)(c)” says Anna Malla of the Caregivers Action Centre. “Caregivers and Disabled people cannot wait for interim measures, the Liberal government must do the right thing, end medical inadmissibility immediately as an interim step to permanent status on arrival.”

The Parliamentary Committee’s report titled, Building an Inclusive Canada: Bringing the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in Step with Modern Values was released following consultations in November. Migrant rights and disability justice groups insist that Disablism was never acceptable, and ending discriminatory laws is not a ‘modern value’.

Section 38(1)(c) reads, “A foreign national is inadmissible on health grounds if their health condition is expected to cause excessive demand on health or social services,” in effect denying an entire family permanent status if any member of the family is sick or disabled. This discriminatory system has been in place since 2002, and an average of 1,000 people, and their families are rejected each year.

BACKGROUND
https://migrantrights.ca/en/613-2/

Toronto, November 20, 2017 – As the Federal government prepares to host consultations in Ottawa, migrant caregivers and disability justice advocates spoke out in Toronto today calling for an immediate end to disability discrimination in Canada’s immigration law. More than a thousand people and organizations have signed an Open Letter in support of these demands.

The parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration is examining Section 38(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) today. Section 38(1)(c) reads “A foreign national is inadmissible on health grounds if their health condition is expected to cause excessive demand on health or social services,” in effect denying an entire family permanent status if ​any ​member ​of ​the ​family ​is sick or disabled. This discriminatory system has been in place since 2002, and an average of 1,000 people, and their families are rejected each year.

“We can’t wait any longer, we need an immediate repeal of the discriminatory medical inadmissibility regime, Permanent Residency for all those denied based on this Section in the last ten years, and Permanent Residency upon arrival for all migrant workers” says Caregivers Action Centre member Amalia Loyzaga, mother of three and a recent widow. Ms Loyzaga has been separated from her family for the past ten years because her Permanent Residency is being challenged based solely on her daughter’s autism diagnosis. She is also one of 25,000 Caregivers caught in a backlog.

“I cannot comprehend how inhuman, discriminatory and unjust immigration law is set out for people with disabilities, and why action is still being delayed” adds Loyzaga.

“Section 38 (1)(c) violates basic rights to equality for disabled people, tears apart families, diminishes the invaluable contributions made by disabled people and stigmatizes us,” says prominent disability activist and scholar Dr. Loree Erickson, who has been in Canada for the past 14 years and was recently denied permanent residency.

“I ​felt ​like ​I ​am ​dying ​when ​I ​was ​denied. ​I ​don’t ​know ​what ​to ​do ​and ​where ​to ​go. ​I felt ​so ​hopeless. ​I ​wanted ​to ​scream. My family has been waiting for years, and we can’t wait any longer, we need to be reunited now” adds Josarie Danieles. Ms. Danieles is a member of the Caregivers Action Centre and has been publicly calling for overhaul of the medical inadmissibility regime since 2016.

Ms Danieles has been in Canada since 2010, and completed her requirements for permanent residency in 2014. Her permanent residency application is being challenged because her daughter Precious has been deemed to be an ‘excessive burden to the Canadian health system’.

Caregiver Mercedes Benitez, whose case was in the news recently and is scheduled to speak to Parliament later today, was granted Permanent Residency based on Humanitarian and compassionate grounds last week.

“Getting my file approved means that I won the lottery. But although now I’m approved, I wonder, what about those other cases? So many others are still suffering. Excessive demand should be eliminated because there should not be any more mothers who cry every night or children who are being discriminated based on their disability or health condition.”

The denial of permanent resident status based on disability is just one symptom of a system that fails to protect those who come from other countries to care for children, the sick, and the elderly. “For caregivers, the medical inadmissibility rule magnifies the hardships imposed by what is already a two-tier system where some immigrants come with temporary status and limited rights, while others come as permanent residents. There needs to be one system of rights, and full immigration status on arrival” adds Fay Faraday, a labour and human rights lawyer who has worked with migrant workers for over two decades.

Directly affected migrant mothers, disabled people and advocates are also concerned with the lack of truly democratic consultation in Parliament.

“While all of us applied to participate in these so-called public consultations, only one of us was invited to speak, but we are here speaking today, to say we cannot wait, end discrimination now,” adds Loyzaga.

Source
www.caregiversactioncentre.org

Migrant caregivers and their supporters are calling on the the Federal Government to:

1. Immediately grant permanent residency to Josarie Danieles, Amalia Loyzaga and their families, as well as other migrants who have been denied permanent residency on disability grounds over the past ten years.
2. Eliminate Section 38(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which allows for discriminating against people with disabilities.
3. Grant permanent residency status to migrant workers currently in Canada, including undocumented workers, with specific provisions to allow their families to join them.
4. Ensure that all migrant workers are allowed to come to Canada with their families, and with permanent residency status, which is the norm for applicants in the Canadian Express Entry system.
5. Ensure all migrant workers have access to all public services, basic rights and the ability to change jobs through open work permits.

Since 2009, migrant worker groups along with you have organized against the 4-and-4 rule, as part of a broader campaign for open work permits and permanent status on landing.

SHARE ON FACEBOOK | SIGN OUR PETITION

The 4-and-4 rule required migrant workers to leave after four years of cumulative employment and banned them from returning for four years. Over 15 cities organized protest and actions in March 2015 as a lead up to the imposition of the 4-and-4 rule which uprooted tens of thousands of migrant workers, and caused mass deportations. Nearly 4,000 people signed petitions. Since October 2015, the Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada (CMWRC) has campaigned for the overturn of this rule and permanent status on landing.

While this is an important step, we need more than repealing and tinkering. We need a total overhaul of the system which begins with ensuring permanent status on landing for migrant workers now and a regularization program for workers who stayed and became undocumented.

In yesterday’s announcement, the Federal Government promised to expand ‘pathways to citizenship’. The Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada (CMWRC) believes that ‘pathways’ are a euphemism for maintaining unjust temporariness for low-waged and racialized workers. A pathway is a two stage process, where migrant workers must first complete a temporary sentence of abuse and injustice before a few are selected to compete for permanent status. Low-waged and racialized people deemed to be doing ‘low-skilled’ work deserve permanent status on landing, just as much as those deemed to be doing ‘high skilled’ work.

Migrant workers from across Canada called for a repeal of the 4-and-4 rule and most importantly permanent status on landing in the recent review of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program in Ottawa.  

Feel free to use pictures and background: http://no4and4campaign.tumblr.com/

Canada,  December 14, 2016 – Since April 2011, migrant worker groups have organized against the 4-and-4 rule, as part of a broader campaign for open work permits and permanent status on landing. The 4-and-4 rule required migrant workers to leave after four years of cumulative employment and banned them from returning for four years. Over 15 cities organized protest and actions in March 2015 as a lead up to the imposition of the 4-and-4 rule which uprooted tens of thousands of migrant workers, and caused mass deportations. Nearly 4,000 people signed petitions. Since October 2015, the Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada (CMWRC) has campaigned for the overturn of this rule. On December 13th, the notorious 4-and-4 rule was repealed.

“This repeal is a first step which came about because migrant workers and their allies organized against an unjust rule that resulted in thousands of deportations and migrants becoming undocumented,” says Syed Hussan of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change. “We need permanent status for migrant workers who stayed here undocumented and for those that were uprooted and forced out, for this change to be really meaningful.”

“There were more than thirty of us who reached our 4 year limit and we fought an uphill battle to stay in Quebec and apply for permanent status,” explains Francisco Mootoo of the Temporary Foreign Workers Association. “Many other migrant workers impacted were unable to do so, and it’s essential that all migrant workers get permanent residence upon arrival.”

“Dozens of our members have been forced to become undocumented or leave Canada because of this badly planned, and badly executed law that seems to have been designed by the previous government simply to show that they were being hard on migrant workers,” adds Anna Malla of the Caregivers’ Action Centre. “Repealing and tinkering is not enough. We need a total overhaul of the system which begins with ensuring permanent status on landing for migrant workers now and a regularization program for workers who have become undocumented.”

In yesterday’s announcement, the Federal Government promised to expand ‘pathways to citizenship’. The Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada (CMWRC) believes that ‘pathways’ are a euphemism for maintaining unjust temporariness for low-waged and racialized workers. A pathway is a two stage process, where migrant workers must first complete a temporary sentence of abuse and injustice before a few are selected to compete for permanent status. Low-waged and racialized people deemed to be doing ‘low-skilled’ work deserve permanent status on landing, just as much as those deemed to be doing ‘high skilled’ work.

Migrant workers from across Canada called for a repeal of the 4-and-4 rule and most importantly for permanent status on landing in the recent review of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program in Ottawa.  

National Media Contacts

• Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada – Syed Hussan – Migrant Workers Alliance for Change – 1-416-453-3632
• Pour le français/Québec: Francisco Mootoo, Association des travailleuses et travailleurs étrangers temporaires: (514) 793-2672
• Atlantic Canada – Josie Baker – Cooper Institute- 1-902-315-2705
• British Columbia – Vancouver – Natalie Drolet, 604-669-6452, West Coast Domestic Workers’ Association
• Ontario – Chris Ramsaroop – Justicia for Migrant Workers / Harvesting Freedom Campaign –1-647-834-4932
• Prairies – Manitoba – Diwa Marcelino – Migrante Canada – 204-218-710

Canada, 19 septembre 2016 – La reconnaissance de la nécessité de réformes du Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires du gouvernement fédéral aujourd’hui est le résultat de plusieurs années de lutte où les travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s ont fait valoir leurs droits et ont lutté contre la violation de leurs droits humains et du respect des lois et normes du travail. Des membres de la Coalition pour les droits des travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s Canada, l’organe représentatif des travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s au Canada, interpellent le ministre McCallum et la ministre Mihychuk afin de légiférer rapidement pour un statut de résidence permanente pour les travailleurs et travailleuses agricoles saisonniers, les aidantes et aidants naturels et les travailleurs et travailleuses étrangers temporaires dans les catégories à bas salaire. CMWRC demande comme mesure provisoire des permis de travail ouvert, la fin des restrictions de l’ère Harper, y compris la règle 4 et 4, et l’enregistrement des recruteurs.

« Pendant trop longtemps, nous avons été traités comme les rouages d’une machine, incapable de changer d’emploi, et le débat a porté sur les profits au lieu d’être sur les gens », a dit Francisco Mottoo, un travailleur étranger temporaire du Québec membre de l’Association des travailleuses et travailleurs étrangers temporaires qui a parlé en mai devant le Comité permanent étudiant la révision du programme. « Mais nous sommes des êtres humains, nous avons des familles, nous avons des sentiments, et nous sommes privés de nos droits les plus élémentaires. La question fondamentale n’est pas combien de travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s et dans quelles industries, mais quels sont les droits que nous avons. Nous méritons un statut d’immigration permanent dès l’arrivée. Nous méritons d’être avec nos familles, nous méritons le bonheur. »

Tous les travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s qui ont été entendu par le comité permanent sont membres d’organismes affiliés à la Coalition pour les droits des travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s Canada. Les travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s ont identifié la nécessité d’un statut permanent dès l’arrivée, des permis de travail ouverts, des réglementations pour les recruteurs, des enquêtes du travail qui sont proactive, et la fin des permis de travail cumulatifs qui sont recommandés dans le rapport d’HUMA aujourd’hui. Les travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s demandent également de revoir l’admissibilité des aides familiales aux soins de santé et le rapatriement des travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s pour des problèmes de santé, demandes qui ne sont pas abordées dans le rapport. La CMWRC espère que toutes ses recommandations seront rapidement mises en œuvre.

Le rapport est publié alors que des travailleurs et des travailleuses agricoles de Justice for Migrant Workers ont entrepris une marche de plus de 1500 kilomètres de Windsor à Ottawa pour souligner les 50 ans de la création du Programme des travailleurs agricoles saisonniers.

« Le rapport d’aujourd’hui est vague et ses recommandations ne sont pas spécifiques. Nous avons besoin de changements réels. Ils parlent de l’élargissement du programme PTAS, mais cela ne peut se produire sans statut permanent », a dit Gabriel Allahdua, un travailleur agricole, qui est à Guelph aujourd’hui. « Depuis un demi-siècle, nous venons au Canada pour l’agriculture, pour le nettoyage, pour l’emballage et pour la restauration. Il n’y a rien de temporaire dans notre situation et nous méritons un statut permanent. »

Le comité HUMA a recommandé un chemin vers la résidence permanente pour les travailleurs étrangers et les travailleuses étrangères temporaires, mais les travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s insistent qu’un « chemin » ne suffit pas.

« Notre travail n’est jamais temporaire. Le travail que nous faisons est permanent. Les aides familiales ont un soi-disant d’accès à une voie menant à la résidence permanente, mais ce n’est pas une voie. C’est un champ de mines qui nous expose à l’exploitation. Nous méritons tous et toutes, les travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s, la résidence permanente à l’arrivée, non pas une situation temporaire à long terme », a expliqué Teta Bayan, aide familiale du Caregivers Action Centre qui n’a pas pu s’exprimer devant le comité. « Nous avons également besoin de la fin du programme des aides familiaux actuel mis en place par le gouvernement précédent qui nous a enlevé notre droit à la résidence permanente. »

###

Transcriptions et enregistrements audio de travailleurs et travailleuses migrant-e-s s’adressant au parlement : https://migrantrights.ca/en/migrant-workers-address-parliament/ 

Observations présentées par diverses organisations demandant la résidence permanente immigration comme statut : https://migrantrights.ca/en/everyone-agrees-policy-recommendations-call-for-permanent-residency-status/

• Pour le français/Québec : Francisco Mootoo, Association des travailleuses et travailleurs étrangers temporaires – (514) 793-2672

• Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada – Syed Hussan – Migrant Workers Alliance for Change – 1-416-453-3632
• Alberta – Edmonton – Marco Luciano – Migrante Canada – 1-780-966-5908
• Atlantic Canada – Josie Baker – Cooper Institute- 1-902-315-2705
• British Columbia – Vancouver – Mildred German – Migrante BC –1-604-879-5850
• Ontario – Chris Ramsaroop – Justicia for Migrant Workers / Harvesting Freedom Campaign –1-647-834-4932
• Prairies – Manitoba – Diwa Marcelino – Migrante Canada – 204-218-710

Canada, September 19, 2016 – The Federal government’s acknowledgement of the need for reforms of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program today is a result of years of migrant workers advocating for themselves and fighting against against denial of their human and labour rights. Migrant workers members of Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada (CMWRC), the representative body for migrant workers in Canada, are calling on Minister McCallum and Minister Mihychuk to now swiftly introduce legislation for permanent immigration status for Seasonal Agricultural Workers, Caregivers and Temporary Foreign Workers in low-waged categories. As an interim measure, CMWRC is calling for open work permits, the licensing of recruiters, and an end to Harper era restrictions, including the 4 and 4 rule.

“For too long we have been treated like cogs in the machine, unable to change jobs, and the debate has been about profits over people,” says Francisco Moottoo, a temporary foreign worker from Quebec and member of Association des travailleuses et travailleurs étrangers temporaires, who spoke to the Standing Committee in May. “But we are human beings, we have families and we have feelings, and we are being denied the most basic of rights. The fundamental question is not how many migrant workers and in what industries, but what rights do we have. We deserve permanent immigration status on landing, we deserve to be able to change our jobs, we deserve to be with our families, we deserve happiness.”

All the migrant workers that participated in this review are members of organizations that make up the CMWRC. Migrant workers identified the need for permanent status on landing, open work permits, recruiter regulation, proactive labour investigations, and an end to the cumulative work permit, which are recommended in the report today. Migrant workers also called for review of medical inadmissibility of Caregivers and repatriation of migrant workers for health concerns, which have not been addressed. CMWRC hopes that all its recommendations are swiftly implemented.

The report comes as agricultural worker members of Justice for Migrant Workers are marching over 1,500 kilometres from Windsor to Ottawa to mark the 50 years since the creation of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program.

“Today’s report is vague and its recommendations are not specific, we need real changes. They are talking about expanding the SAWP program but that can’t happen without permanent status” says Farmworker Gabriel Allahdua who is in Guelph today. “We have been coming to Canada, and growing, harvesting, cleaning, packing and serving food for half a century, there is nothing temporary about us. We deserve permanent status.”

The committee has recommended a path to permanent residency for Temporary Foreign Workers, but migrant workers insist that a ‘path’ is not enough.

“Our job is never temporary, the work we do is permanent. Caregivers have a so-called path to permanent residency, but it’s not a path, it’s a minefield and it’s exposing us to exploitation, all of us migrant workers deserve permanent residence on arrival not long-term temporariness,” says Caregiver Teta Bayan from the Caregivers Action Centre who was forced to miss her turn to speak to the review. “We also need an end to the current Caregiver program introduced by the previous government which took away our right to permanent residency.”

###

• Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada – Syed Hussan – Migrant Workers Alliance for Change – 1-416-453-3632
• Pour le français/Quebec: Francisco Mootoo, Association des travailleuses et travailleurs étrangers temporaires: (514) 793-2672
• Alberta – Edmonton – Marco Luciano – Migrante Canada – 1-780-966-5908
• Atlantic Canada – Josie Baker – Cooper Institute- 1-902-315-2705
• British Columbia – Vancouver – Mildred German – Migrante BC –1-604-879-5850
• Ontario – Chris Ramsaroop – Justicia for Migrant Workers / Harvesting Freedom Campaign –1-647-834-4932
• Prairies – Manitoba – Diwa Marcelino – Migrante Canada – 204-218-710

Canada, July 6, 2016 — Migrant worker organizations are ringing alarm bells about closed-door meetings on immigration policy across the country that do not include migrant workers’ concerns. These invitation-only ‘Townhalls’ began last week, while an online consultation form was launched on a government website without much notice Tuesday. Over 50 national organizations have joined the Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada, the representative body of migrant workers, in calling for open meetings with migrant workers at a time and place where they can participate, and comprehensive immigration reform to ensure permanent resident status for low-waged, racialized workers.

“Migrant workers are critical to Canada’s economy. However, they are denied basic rights and are unable to participate in decisions that affect their lives. Permanent immigration status for migrant workers is the most pressing change needed in immigration policy in Canada today” says Josie Baker from the Cooper Institute in Prince Edward Island and a member of the Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada. “I had to call MPs in my area to find out about the meeting. I was told that one was happening in my town right away. They hadn’t told anyone about it, and migrant workers aren’t invited. Where is the transparency?”

A review of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and the Caregiver Program was just completed by a parliamentary committee but the final recommendations will not be released until the Fall. Migrant workers are one of the only groups of immigrants that can’t come to Canada with permanent resident status, a change that must be made through the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

“First and foremost, we need to change immigration law to ensure that migrant workers have permanent resident immigration rights like everyone else. These immigration consultations should be a time to ensure real conversation and transparency where Parliamentarians listen to migrant workers where they are and move towards comprehensive reforms, not backroom conversations with a few insiders,” says Marco Luciano from Migrante Canada, based in Edmonton.

Migrant workers recently spoke to Parliamentarians at the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Audio and transcripts can be found here. Dozens of national organizations have called for permanent immigration status for migrant workers, see some of them here. Migrant worker organizations across the country are available to comment.

Media Contacts

• Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada – Syed Hussan – Migrant Workers Alliance for Change – 1-416-453-3632
• Alberta – Edmonton – Marco Luciano – Migrante Canada – 1-780-966-5908
• Atlantic Canada – Josie Baker – Cooper Institute- 1-902-894-4573
• British Columbia – Vancouver – Natalie Drolet – West Coast Domestic Workers Association –1-604-669-6452
• British Columbia – Okanagan – Elise Hjalmarson — RAMA – 250-212-2620.
• Ontario – Chris Ramsaroop – Justicia for Migrant Workers / Harvesting Freedom Campaign –1-647-834-4932

Click their names to read the transcript or scroll below to hear audio. Click here to read submissions from diverse organizations supporting migrant worker demands.

• Gabriel Allahdua, Agricultural worker, Justicia for Migrant Workers
• Gina Bahiwal, Agricultural worker, Justicia for Migrant Workers / others
• Ericson Santos De Leon, Caregiver, Migrante
• Francisco Mootoo, Migrant worker, Temporary Foreign Workers Association, Quebec
• Teta Bayan, Member, Caregivers Action Centre
• Pinky Paglingayen, Caregiver
• Claudia Colocho, Migrant worker, United Food and Commercial Workers
AND
• Marcia Lindo-Barrett the cousin of Sheldon Mckenzie, Farmworker who died as a result of workplace injuries

From May 11 to June 1, 2016, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities invited written submissions on the future of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program. Across the board, most written submissions called for permanent residency status on arrival for all migrant workers. Here are a few of them.

Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada / Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, and endorsed by 16 organizations.

All migrant workers must be able to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents immediately, independently and permanently without depending or relying on the sponsorship or good will of their employers or third party agencies. This program should include migrant workers already in Canada, those that have worked here and left and those arriving in the future. Migrant workers who have been granted permanent residency should get comprehensive settlement services that will ensure their success. Download full submissions here.

Canadian Council for Refugees

The federal government should guarantee the right to all admitted as migrant workers, whatever the category, to apply for permanent residence at the same time as they apply for the work permit. This would move us away from treating newcomers as disposable, as we have been doing by using precarious, temporary labour to fill long-term positions. Download full submissions here.

Inter Pares

Current and future migrant workers should be presented with the option of acquiring permanent residency in Canada immediately, independently and permanently without depending or relying on the sponsorship or good will of their employers or third party agencies. Download full submissions here.

United Food and Commercial Workers

Canada should view the prosperity of migrant workers as an investment in Canada. We should actively support their settlement and nurture their attachment to Canada. Our primary recommendation is that workers have the option to enter Canada as permanent residents. Download full submissions here.

Migrant Worker Solidarity Network

Migrant workers, including Seasonal Agricultural Workers, should be given permanent resident status. Download full submissions here.

Caregivers Action Centre 

May 27, 2016 – Canada — Migrant advocates are calling for immediate permanent resident immigration status for Seasonal Agricultural Workers, Caregivers and Temporary Foreign Workers as a parliamentary committee reviews the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Migrant workers take care of our children, grow our food and build our economy, but remain precarious and vulnerable. These hard working community members are unable to change jobs, assert their rights and are separated from their children and parents by restricting policies.

Media events across Canada

Charlottetown, PEI: May 30, 12pm, Province House – 902-315-2705
Edmonton, AB: May 30, 9:30am, Alberta Legislature – 780-966-5908
Kelowna, BC: May 28, 11am, Kelowna Farmers Market – 250-212-2620
Montreal, QC: Available by phone – (514) 793-2672
Toronto, ON: May 30, 1pm, Southeast corner of Bloor & Spadina – 416-453-3632
Vancouver, BC: May 31, 11:30am, 550 W 6th Avenue – 604-669-6452

Background

The federal government is reviewing the Temporary Foreign Workers Program over six, three hour sessions in a parliamentary committee. Migrant workers have largely been excluded from this process. Only four migrant workers have spoken to the Parliamentarians, and one Caregiver leader was turned away on May 18th. CMWRC is calling for a comprehensive multi-Ministry consultation with migrant workers at a time and place they can attend following the current review.

Download backgrounder here.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada – Syed Hussan – Migrant Workers Alliance for Change – 1-416-453-3632
Pour le français/Quebec: Francisco Mootoo, Association des travailleuses et travailleurs étrangers temporaires: (514) 793-2672
Alberta – Edmonton – Marco Luciano – Migrante Canada – 1-780-966-5908
Atlantic Canada – Josie Baker – Cooper Institute- 1-902-315-2705
British Columbia – Vancouver – Natalie Drolet – West Coast Domestic Workers Association –1-604-669-6452
British Columbia – Okanagan – Elise Hjalmarson — RAMA – 250-212-2620.
Ontario – Chris Ramsaroop – Justicia for Migrant Workers / Harvesting Freedom Campaign –1-647-834-4932
Prairies – Manitoba – Diwa Marcelino – Migrante Canada – 204-218-710

Ottawa, May 16, 2016 – Four migrant workers will testify at the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) today between 4:30pm and 6:30pm calling for permanent immigration status, open work permits and comprehensive reforms. Migrant worker leaders from across Canada are joining them to call for permanent immigration status on landing. The Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada which is helping to coordinate these testimonies continues to insist that more needs to be done to ensure migrant worker participation in laws that primarily affect their lives. The hearing can be watched – audio only – as of 3:30pm by clicking here.

Gina Bahiwal, has been a Temporary Foreign Worker in Ontario and BC since 2008 and has worked at a warehouse, Holiday Inn and Mcdonalds. She will testify to HUMA today.

“I think migrant workers should all get permanent status upon arrival because we came here to Canada to work, and our work is skilled work. If you come to Canada and your work is called high-skilled, you get permanent immigration status, why don’t we? In addition, those workers who are being abused on closed work permits, can’t find another job because their work permit is tied to a job. Many workers, vulnerable workers, who worked in Canada for four years are being told to go home, but they have no life to go back to.”

Gabriel Alahuda is a Seasonal Agricultural Worker in Ontario. He will testify to HUMA today.

“A migrant farmworker, named Sheldon Mc Kenzie, died in 2005 in a work related accident – a fact that is news across Canada today. What safety net is available for the young family he’ve left behind after 13 years of service on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program? These questions must be answered. Migrant workers spend years working in a developed country like Canada, where we consistently make our contributions, like all working citizens, only to be denied the benefits which only citizens can access and enjoy. We need rights, we need permanent residency and need it now.”

Francisco Mootoo a temporary foreign worker from Mauritius. He arrived in Quebec in 2012. He will testify to HUMA this week.

“We were lucky, but we had to fight for our right to stay, knowing full well that we have done everything required of us as working people contributing to Canada’s economy here in Quebec.  These immigration policies have to change for the better, reflecting a program that does not seek to exploit the desperation of hardworking people who merely wish to make this country their home. In that light, we fully support the demands of the Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada and hope that the HUMA committee seriously listens to our collective voice when reviewing the TFWP.”

Ericson Santos De Leon, Caregiver from Montreal, Quebec who will testify to the committee

“My agency charged me $4,300 placement fee. They said that I had to pay such a high fee because it was harder to place male caregivers. When I got here, I found out that the agency that hired me paid a friend to pretend to be my employer for my papers. For three months, I was stranded. After three months, I was getting desperate so I went to the agency and asked, what was going on? I’ve been waiting for so long. They made me work under the table for a family for a year. After a year, I told them I would report them to the authorities. I said, “you’ve been abusing me. I have a family to support.” They got scared and finally fixed my papers so I was legally employed. What they did was very wrong. They took advantage of me because they know that I wanted to come to Canada.”

Hessed Torres, Temporary Foreign Worker from Vancouver, British Columbia

“As a live-in caregiver, I experienced working between 12-16 hours a days despite my contract stating that I would work 8 hours a day. I also worked beyond the job duties that were stated in my contract. I felt that I needed to stay with my employer despite my working conditions being unjust because I didn’t have mobility to work for a different employer that would treat me fairly. When I asserted my rights, I was terminated. I was left jobless and homeless. I’m very fortunate to be part of MIGRANTE BC because they gave me shelter, a home, a community, and helped to empower me to assert my rights and to talk about my experience as a migrant worker.”

Dhon Mojica, Migrant Worker from Alberta

“Temporary foreign workers like myself are people, we are workers were not rags that can be thrown away when you don’t need us anymore, We were invited to come and many made money off us, we deserve the right to stay in Canada.”

Source
Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada
www.migrantrights.ca

Backgrounder

Please see: https://migrantrights.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/MigrantWorkers_Backgrounder.pdf

MEDIA CONTACTS

• Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada – Syed Hussan – Migrant Workers Alliance for Change – 1-416-453-3632
• Ontario – Chris Ramsaroop – Justicia for Migrant Workers / Harvesting Freedom Campaign – 1-647-834-4932
• Pour le français/Quebec: Lucio Castracani – Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrant-e-s, (514) 885-4014
• Alberta – Edmonton – Marco Luciano – Migrante Canada – 1-780-966-5908
• British Columbia – Vancouver – Natalie Drolet – West Coast Domestic Workers Association – 1-604-669-6452
• Atlantic Canada – Josie Baker – Cooper Institute- 1-902-315-2705
• Prairies – Manitoba – Diwa Marcelino – Migrante Canada – 204-218-710

National Migrant Worker Rights Coalition calls for Open Work Permits and Permanent Resident Status

Canada – The Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada (CMWRC) is calling for removal of restrictions of hours required for Employment Insurance so that ALL Fort McMurray worker evacuees can have immediate income. CMWRC is also calling on the federal government to issue open work permits or temporary residents permits for temporary foreign workers (TFW) evacuees so that they can get back on their feet and get back to work. A review is currently taking place for EI in Parliament and a review of the TFW program starts on Wednesday, May 11th. CMWRC is calling for open work permits, and permanent resident status for migrant workers in the TFW review. A petition has also been started by CMWRC.

“Many of the 80,000 people who were evacuated now have no income due to no fault of their own, and many may be denied Employment Insurance,” explains Migrante Canada organizer and CMWRC member Marco Luciano based in Edmonton. “Getting Employment Insurance into the hands of all workers – Canadian and migrant – is essential to giving people the support they need.”

Under current laws, workers in Fort McMurray need to have worked 630 hours in the previous 52 weeks to qualify for EI. If they do, they would receive a base rate of 55% of their weekly salary. Many workers will be excluded because they have not accrued this many hours.

“Migrant workers face an additional burden however, which requires immediate action. Under the current broken system, migrant workers can only work for one employer at the one location that is listed on their permits. They are effectively tied to a single workplace, and now likely that workplace has been destroyed by fire” added Luciano. “These migrant workers need open work permits or temporary resident permits immediately so that they can start looking for work and get back on their feet. They have taken huge loans to come work in Canada, they have families to feed just like everyone else, and they need their hands untied so they can get back to work.”

“The tragedy in Alberta highlights the need to address the inconsistencies that exist for migrant workers that should be dealt with in the upcoming review of the TFW process,” says Syed Hussan, from the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change in Toronto. “All migrant workers need permanent resident immigration status, open work permits and an end to Harper era laws.”

The Filipino Workers Network is raising funds for the foreign worker evacuees at https://fundrazr.com/b180X9.

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Backgrounder on TFWP and asks by CMWRC: https://migrantrights.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/MigrantWorkers_Backgrounder.pdf

Source
www.migrantrights.ca

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Media Contacts

• Alberta – Edmonton – Marco Luciano – Migrante Canada – 1-780-966-5908
• Coalition for Migrant Worker Rights Canada – Syed Hussan – Migrant Workers Alliance for Change – 1-416-453-3632
• Pour le français/Quebec: Lucio Castracani – Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrant-e-s, (514) 885-4014
• Ontario – Chris Ramsaroop – Justicia for Migrant Workers / Harvesting Freedom Campaign – 1-647-834-4932
• British Columbia – Vancouver – Natalie Drolet – West Coast Domestic Workers Association – 1-604-669-6452
• Atlantic Canada – Josie Baker – Cooper Institute- 1-902-315-2705
• Prairies – Manitoba – Diwa Marcelino – Migrante Canada – 204-218-710