by R.J. Pate
On the morning of Oct. 3, around 50 people gathered in solidarity against the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) and the 50 years of mistreatment towards migrant farm workers in Canada. Circled out in front of the Government of Canada’s Jean Edmonds South Tower, the Harvesting Freedom Caravan finished its month-long journey for Justice for Migrant Workers, culminating in peaceful protest.
The SAWP serves as a labour-migration program across the nation that requires specific temporary foreign workers (TFW) to come from Mexico or certain Caribbean countries. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this program, which has inadvertently fostered the mistreatment of tens of thousands of Mexican and Caribbean foreign workers who bring food across the country to our dinner tables. In order to rectify half a century of injustice, the Harvesting Freedom Campaign demanded Permanent Residency Status for migrant farm workers here in Canada.
The autumn morning gathering was led primarily by Trinidad-born Chris Ramsaroop, a Justice for Migrant Workers organizer who kept spirits high and moderated between community voices on Laurier St. West.
“If you’re here for an inquiry into the deaths of all migrant workers, let me hear you!” chanted Ramsaroop. “If you’re here to stop an immigration process that puts us in a category with no rights, let me hear you!” continued Ramsaroop downtown alongside a crowd of migrant workers and allies.
The Harvesting Freedom Campaign reminds Canadians of the reality of TFW and the government’s legal treatment towards migrant workers under Canadian law that allows them to be exploited, injured and sometimes killed while working for Canadian employers.
“Our country is built on the back of migrant workers” an organizer continued.
On the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation next year and with many celebrating a time of colonization, the Harvesting Freedom Campaign asks why those good enough to work for our country are not good enough to receive permanent residency status.
“50 Years of Farm Workers Resistance,” read signs and voices remained heard as the morning led into the afternoon and the realities of workers in western Ontario were given a platform for not only for workers and supporters but one government official, Niki Ashton of the NDP, in the nation’s capital.
“We do this for all the survivors and workers who died,” said Ramsaroop.
The stories of migrant workers and the corruption that exists on these farms are publicized thanks to organizations such as Justice for Migrant Workers, Coalition for Migrant Workers Rights Canada and Migrant Workers Solidarity Movement. These are organizations that continue to support TFW and the realities they face, including health concerns, payment processing, immigration and work-related disabilities.
This article first appeared in the Leveller Vol. 9, No. 2 (Oct/Nov 2016).
