Open Letter to All Electoral Candidates

April 20, 2011

Dear Candidates,

RE: Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Policies

Migrante-Canada, a Canada-wide organization comprised of Filipino TFWs, established immigrants and citizens would like to inform our membership and the public about your position regarding the plight of TFWs across the country.
  • A recent Auditor General’s report found that Canada’s TFW program leaves migrant workers vulnerable to a range of abuses. Examples include TFWs having to pay thousands of dollars to unscrupulous recruiters; not being the promised wages by employers; and being subject to inhumane living and working conditions.
  • In 2007, the Philippines was Canada’s largest source country for immigrants and TFWs combined. Apart from the Americans, Filipinos comprise the majority of TFWs coming to Canada. A recent article came out from the Globe and Mail (March 11, 2011) citing the Philippines as the new “top source” of immigrants to Canada.
  • The number of TFWs in Canada has increased dramatically in the last several years. In 2008, there were an estimated 250,000 TFWs in the country compared to 100,000 in 2002.
In light of the greatly expanding number of TFWs along with the rising cases of abuses documented by Migrante-Canada and other migrant organizations, we would appreciate your response to the following questions regarding Canada’s TFW program:

1. Do you support the continued use and expansion of Temporary Foreign Workers to address Canada’s labour shortage?

2. Given that many TFWs are unable to access Employment Insurance because their SIN is co-terminus with their work permit or their work permit “prevents them from being available for work” – how will you and your party ensure that unemployed TFWs receive the EI benefits they have been contributing into?

3. There are now little or no federal services for unemployed TFWs. How do you propose to address this?

4. Although TFWs technically are able to receive a reimbursement for their CPP contributions when they leave Canada – many are unaware of this. Do you believe it’s necessary to collect CPP from TFWs even when by nature, they will not be staying in Canada long enough to collect this pension?

5. How does your party propose to monitor the situation of TFWs to ensure their protection?

6. Do you support eliminating the 4 year cap and 4 year ban for Temporary Foreign Workerss?

7. Please comment on the proposal for an industry specific, instead of an employer specific work permit.

8. What are your proposals regarding errant employers? How can they be made more accountable and / or be penalized for the violation of a TFWs rights and welfare?

Thank you for your attention to this important issue. All responses will be made public and posted on our website to assist voters in deciding which candidate and party is most capable of protecting the interests of TFWs.

For more information, please contact:

Jane Ordinario for British Columbia: 604-961-7794
Aubrey Makilan Delacruz for Alberta: 403-392-8286
Jomay Amora-Mercado for Manitoba: 204-509-2491
Christopher Sorio for Ontario: 416-752-1210
Sid De Guzman for Quebec: 514-735-8012
Jonathan Almocera for New Brunswick: eathan25@hotmail.com


Sincerely,

Christopher Sorio
Secretary General, Migrante Canada

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Migrante Canada Member Organizations: Migrante-BC, Migrante-Alberta, Damayan (Manitoba), Migrante Manitoba, Fiipino Migrant Workers Movment (Ontario), iWworkers (Ontario), Pilipinong Migrante Sa Barrie (Ontario), Migrante Youth (Ontario), Philippine Migrant Society of Canada – Ottawa (Ontario), PINAY (Quebec), Filipino Workers Support Group (Quebec), Parents Support Group (Quebec), Domestic Workers Association of Quebec, Aklan Association of Quebec, BIBAK Organizing Committee (Quebec), Filipino Migrants Organizing Committee (New Brunswick)