ESSENTIAL, BUT DISPOSABLE? - The Contributions and Rights of Migrant Workers in Canada

Tragically, Canada has a history and legacy of exclusionary immigration policies that counter the values and image we claim to hold, and the SAWP is no exception. [...] A significant proportion of workers in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program are parents and the effects of not being able to bring their families as they work in Canada are profoundly detrimental. [...] Considering the values Canadian society desires to reflect and the essential contributions that migrant workers give to our communities, we believe that the government should grant migrant workers the option to access permanent residence status. [...] To act according to these values and commitments, temporary foreign workers should be granted an accessible pathway to permanent residency, which entitles them to a minimum standard of rights such as family reunification, choice of residence, the ability to switch employers, and equal access to health care. [...] We implore the government of Canada to use this opportunity to rectify the injustices of the past and present and to move toward a more just society that honours the dignity of each and every person residing within the country.