Media Advisory
Migrant Rights Network
Broad National Coalition Pushes for Regularization as Cabinet Decision Looms
Ottawa — Some of Canada’s largest labour, faith, women’s rights, housing, and migrant groups – representing over 500 organizations – are uniting on Parliament Hill to encourage the Trudeau government to fulfill its commitment to regularization. This critical policy, which provides permanent resident status for undocumented people, will have lasting economic and social benefits and is set to be discussed in Cabinet in the next two weeks.
Event Details
WHERE: Room 135-B, West Block, House of Commons
WHEN: 9:30am EST, Monday, May 27, 2024
WHO:
- Jane Kirabira, Undocumented Ugandan Lesbian
- Siobhán Vipond, Exeutive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress
- Frédérique Chabot, Executive Director, Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights
- Emily Dwyer, United Church of Canada
- Michele Biss, National Director, National Right to Housing Network
- Syed Hussan, Migrant Rights Network
- Cheolki Yoon, Immigrant Workers Centre
Why Regularization Matters:
- Economic Impact: Will add at least $28 billion to the economy annually and increase EI and CPP contributions by $5.6 billion per year.
- Provides Protections: Empowers workers, women, queer and trans people, and marginalized communities to protect themselves against abuse.
- Global Precident: 24 of the 27 EU Member States have implemented regularization programs, benefiting an estimated 6 million undocumented people.
- Human Rights: Undocumented people already live and work in Canada but face exploitation and exclusion. Permanent resident status is the mechanism by which rights and equality are accessed.
- Litmus Test & Legacy Defining: Is a test of Trudeau’s pro-immigrant, pro-LGBTQ2I and feminist commitments; and an investment in generations to come.
- Broadly Supported: Over 500 groups, including most major national labour, environmental, legal, health, feminist, climate and faith organizations in Canada support regularization.
- Historic Promise: Prime Minister Trudeau pledged regularization in December 2021.
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Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest migrant-led coalition. We ensure the leadership of people without permanent resident status – migrant workers, international students, undocumented people, refugees and families. Member organizations of Migrant Rights Network have a long-standing commitment to ensuring regularization, and have been at the forefront of organizing for immigration justice for over 20 years.
Media Liaison (EN/FR): Karen Cocq, karen@migrantworkersalliance.org, 647-970-8464
Participation in the question and answer portion of this event is in person or via Zoom, and is for accredited members of the Press Gallery only. Media who are not members of the Press Gallery may contact pressres2@parl.gc.ca for temporary access.