Stop scapegoating migrants

On Monday, August 26, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced further changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

High unemployment, low wages, and unaffordable housing are not being caused by immigrants and migrants –  these are caused by employer exploitation and policy failures.

Migrants build communities, and they deserve equal rights and respect, not scapegoating –  Canada must focus on increasing rights and permanent resident status for migrants, not decreasing the numbers of migrants.

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change further reiterates:

• Restricting low-wage temporary foreign worker work permits to one year will mean workers will have to leave the country and pay vast sums of money to return.
• Higher unemployment is caused by a shrinking economy. High immigrant unemployment is a result of racism and discrimination – immigrants are always the last hired, first fired. Most immigrants are in low-wage jobs that are no longer entry-level positions because of lack of opportunities for re-training, accreditation and skills matching.
• Most migrants live in employer-controlled housing, in cramped sub-standard conditions, and in student residences. The low wages they are paid and skyrocketing rents mean migrants are barely able to afford housing, not competing to buy single-family homes.
• Rent is set by speculators and landlords, not by demand, and has been allowed to skyrocket because provinces have waived rent controls.
• Wages are low because provinces have kept minimum wages low and won’t rein in employers who have refused to raise wages despite making record profits.
• At least 50 per cent of Canada’s GDP growth is a result of temporary and permanent immigration – slashing immigration will result in greater unemployment.
• The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery was right when he said “the recent policy shift to reduce the number of temporary residents will not address the challenges faced by those who continue to enter through the same programme.”
• Linking immigration and unemployment and affordability will increase xenophobia and racism.

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change is a member-led organization of migrant farmworkers, care workers, students and others working to win worker and immigration justice.