Give migrant workers citizenship, B.C. labour group urges

September 4, 2006
CBC News

Temporary farm workers brought to British Columbia from other countries should be made Canadian citizens, says the president of the province’s largest labour organization.

Jim Sinclair of the B.C. Federation of Labour has warned that too many Mexican berry pickers working in the Fraser Valley under the federal Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program have been threatened with deportation because of disputes with their bosses.

Sinclair, whose group represents more than 450,000 workers through affiliated unions, said making the farm workers Canadian citizens would solve the problem.

“The boss can’t send them back if they get angry with them,” Sinclair said.

“Being fired is one thing, but you get fired and then lose your right to work here, then you got to go home. That’s a pretty big stick to give an employer.”

Workers say they lack washrooms, water, shelter

In April, 32 farm workers in the Fraser Valley wrote a public letter outlining their concerns about their workplace and living conditions, including a call for washrooms, clean water and a place to eat out of the rain while in the fields.

Soon after, one of the workers received a notice from his employer saying his contract had been terminated and he had to leave the country.

His employer told reporters he was fired for just cause, but wouldn’t go into details.

Mandeep Dhillon, of the group Justice for Migrant Workers, said the temporary workers face terrible conditions on some farms but don’t complain because they’re afraid.

Dhillon said federal government officials have argued that the workers don’t fall under their jurisdiction, while the Mexican consulate tends to side with the employers to ensure the program keeps running.

But Dhillon said that leaves the workers out of luck.

Program operates in 9 provinces

The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program brings more than 11,000 Mexicans to Canadian farms each year under an agreement between the two countries meant to fill labour shortages.

They are mostly employed during peak harvesting and planting periods when there are traditionally shortages of qualified Canadian workers.

The federal program currently operates in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.