Advocates push for better system for migrants in post-election Canada

Care workers call for permanent residency status on arrival and family unity. CAREGIVERS ACTION CENTRE

RED DEER, Alberta – Amid the polarizing results of the recent federal election in Canada, advocates are looking to fortify their ranks to press for a better treatment of migrant workers by parliament.

“In a minority government, with political parties trying to consolidate their votes, it may be difficult to get the voices of migrants, undocumented, and non-citizens who cannot vote to be heard,” said the Migrant Rights Alliance, a network of about 40 organizations throughout Canada a post-election statement on its website.

“While it may seem difficult to impact what happens inside parliament, we have and we must continue to build our power outside it,” the group said.

The alliance also fears that the migrant sector may face multiple crises from public service funding cuts after right-wing Conservative Party of Canada, emerged as the winner in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Ontario.

Overhaul

In years leading to the 2019 federal elections, migrant rights advocates had long been calling for an overhaul of Canada’s immigration system.

“No political party [was] putting forward a comprehensive solution, they are trying to tweak the system, but what we need is an overhaul,” said Syed Hussan, coordinator for Migrant Rights Alliance in an interview with INQUIRER.net.

By his estimates, about 700,000 migrants come on temporary permits – as students, workers or refugee – each year in Canada. “Over the last few decades, Canada has shifted towards a system of temporary immigration,” he said, reporting that 70 percent of immigrants have no permanent status when they come to Canada.

Many migrants on temporary permits are underpaid, have no labor rights or access to basic services despite paying all the taxes, he added. To make matters worse, only a fraction stays and gain permanent resident status while most are forced to return to their countries or risk becoming undocumented in Canada.

“We have a two-tiered immigration system that allows exploitation and abuse of migrants by employers and we need this addressed,” Hussad said.

The first step to a better immigration system is to allow permanent status upon arrival and provide the same rights to migrants, he proposed.

Stability

Fifty-four-year-old FilipinaCanadian Eileen Castillo supported the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the recent federal elections.

“I applaud the NDP and the Green Party for welcoming immigrants,” she said.

Castillo, a registered nurse, would like to see the winning bloc prioritize immigrants who are already in Canada, especially those who have lost their status as a result of the relentless changes to the immigration system over the years.

“These [immigrants] should be pardoned and given [the chance to] be reunited with their families. They deserve to have the rights,” she said.

Associate Professor Nora Angeles of the University of British Columbia views the re-election of the Liberal Party, albeit in a minority position, to have a positive effect on the federal government’s pilot programs involving caregivers.

The Filipina professor who teaches at UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning and the Women’s and Gender Studies Undergraduate Program opined that the Caregiver Program will maintain some degree of stability because of the re-election of the Liberal Party.

The Caregiver Program offers a way for potential immigrants to permanently reside in Canada.

Program changes

Changes to the program in June this year have eliminated the employer-specific nature of the caregiver’s work visa changing it to occupation-specific, which allows the caregiver to change employers in cases of labor abuses.

However, Angeles said there could also be downsides to the outcome of the recent election.

“One, the high cost barriers to entry prevent many underprivileged Filipinos from applying as an estimated $15,000-20,000 upfront are needed to pay for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) testing, Education Credentials Assessment (ECA), and other paper requirements and show money needed, as would any Permanent Resident under Federal Skilled Worker Program would have to provide,” she said.

In the past, caregivers had the chance to come, work and save that money to bring their family members here.

“Two, these high costs of application will likely reduce the number of applicants from more disadvantaged social groups from the Philippines (e.g. those who cannot score well on the IELTS or get favorable ECA review). Given the higher money and educational requirements, those who can use this Program as an opportunity to migrate and resettle permanently are economically better-off applicants with professional degrees who do not mind their being streamed in care-giving occupations,” she explained.

Thirdly, despite the steep fees to pay regardless of the outcome, applicants will likely resort to either loan sharks, or accept “unsavory salary advance” arrangements with their future employers, she said. “

In both cases, abuse in the form of extremely high interest rates or tied employment might occur,” she added.

The existence of the Caregiver Program also allows privatization of care to continue, as in the case of lack of government-funded day care programs and senior support, she said.

Immigrants welcome

It was Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government that set the target of welcoming over 331,000 newcomers this year. A survey conducted before the October 21 election showed half of Canadians support this immigration plan.

The survey by non-government research foundation Angus Reid Institute released October 7 also showed more than half of Canadians (56%) believe the handling of the border issues by the Liberal government, particularly asylum seekers has been too soft.

Influence by the Conservative Party of Canada on its supporters on the impact of immigrants on Canadian jobs was also evident in the survey. Four-in-ten of who had planned to vote for this party say too many Canadian jobs are being lost to newcomers.

The Conservative Party won 121 seats following Canada’s 43^rd federal elections, forming the opposition bloc.

In 2018, Canada admitted 321, 121 permanent residents, an 11% increase from 286,479 in 2017.

“Canada has always benefitted from having a highly effective system of managed immigration; indeed, newcomers play an important role in Canada’s prosperity as they help create jobs and strengthen our economy,” said Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen in a statement made in May, 2019 announcing his department’s 2019-2020 plan.

The multi-year immigration levels plan included the admission of 350,000 permanent residents by 2021 eyeing most of this increase from economic immigration streams. The plan also aims for faster family reunification through expanded admissions as well as an increase in refugee protection.