The New Canadian Centre and Peterborough Immigration Partnership supported the creation of a short documentary in 2021, by the talented Shahed Khaito, to raise awareness about migrant farm workers in our community. Roberto and Julie were invited to speak about their experience. Thanks for including us NCC.

Our critique of the program’s structure was understandably cut down, so here’s a synopsis:

We believe Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) could be improved - to better reflect the value of this essential group of skilled workers who travel to Canada each year and make up a third of our agricultural workforce - if migrant farm workers were granted the following. Open or sector specific work permits, so their employment is not tied to one farm, which gives employers too much power. And permanent residence, so they are treated like equals with equal labour rights in our food system. Many workers don’t want to move to Canada, but permanent resident status would fix inequalities they experience in the agricultural workforce.

When you eat today, think about migrant farm workers, feel all the gratitude for their sacrifice, and join the movement calling for their permanent status and for justice in our food system. And if you’re concerned that we shouldn’t be relying on foreign workers to feed ourselves, then showing more respect and gratitude for this skilled, difficult work would certainly attract more Canadians to the jobs. However you understand the problem, the solution requires placing a higher value on our food and showing greater respect for those to grow it.

Follow these migrant rights advocates to learn more about migrant worker issues and developments:

• Justice 4 Migrant Workers

• Migrant Rights Network

• Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

• Migrant Worker Health Project