Harvesting Freedom in Southern Ontario Seeks Justice for Farm Workers
Posted: September 15, 2016
Categories: Events / Food in the News
Justice for Migrant Workers and the Harvesting Freedom Campaign left Leamington at the beginning of September to embark on a historic month-long caravan with migrant workers and allies, making several stops across Southern Ontario and ending in Ottawa October 2nd-3rd.
The campaign, in 2016, marks the 50th Anniversary of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program, a labour-migration program that has brought tens of thousands of Caribbean and Mexican migrant farm workers to agricultural fields across Canada. The caravan is demanding justice for these tens of thousands of farm workers, highlighting their vital importance to Canada’s food system yet the many injustices they face, and asking the Canadian government to provide them with Permanent Immigration Status.
A Kingston National Farmers Union news release in support of migrant workers’ rights reads: “Today, if a migrant worker is fired as a result of standing up for their rights, he or she can be deported,” said Ayla Fenton, NFU Youth President. “Allowing migrant workers to change jobs, and offering them permanent resident status immediately will improve the quality of jobs, and improve fairness for ethical employers who do not cut corners.”
We encourage you to read more about these important issues from the Justice for Migrant Workers and the Harvesting Freedom Website.
If you are interested in attending a caravan stop near you, below are the upcoming event dates:
Langford, Thursday Sept 15
Simcoe, Friday Sept 16
Woodstock, Saturday Sept 17
Guelph, Saturday Sept 17-19
Waterloo, Monday Sept 19
Kitchener, Tuesday Sept 20
St. Catharines, Wednesday Sept 21
Beamsville, Thursday Sept 22
Hamilton, Friday Sept 23- Sat Sept 24
St. Catharines, Saturday Sept 24
Toronto, Sunday Sept 25
Durham, Monday Sept 26
Cobourg, Tuesday Sept 27
Kingston, Wednesday Sept 28- Thurs Sept 29
Ottawa Oct 1-3
There is more information regarding each stop on the Harvesting Freedom Website and the Facebook event page.