If you live in Essex County, you know that thousands of migrant farm workers (or "temporary foreign workers") come to Canada from other countries. In any given year there are about 24,000 to 35,000 migrant farm workers in Ontario. These migrant farm workers often do strenuous work on Essex County farms. Yesterday, Essex MPP Taras Natyshak released a public statement regarding migrant farm workers.
Natyshak says that 2 migrant farm workers have died from Covid-19 and action must be taken "before more lives are lost." Sounds alarming, doesn't it? At least Natyshak makes it sound that way.
The provincial government has allocated money to farms for the purchase of protective equipment for workers. Natyshak criticizes it saying, "cutting cheques to farmers" is a "disastrous plan." Really? The farm is the employer and the employer provides the protective equipment. It is the employer who provides the protective equipment in every single industry in Ontario. How is this "disastrous?" Would Natyshak prefer giving the money to the migrant farm workers and then force them to go out and find protective equipment on their own?
Natyshak says migrant farm workers should get "guaranteed paid sick days." But Natyshak doesn't seem to realize that migrant farm workers get the same pay and benefits as anyone else. According to Employment and Social Development Canada: "You must provide temporary foreign workers with the same wages and benefits as those provided to Canadian and permanent resident employees working in the same occupation." Yep. That's the law. You can look it up on the Government of Canada website under Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program Wages, working conditions and occupations.
Farm work is physically demanding. Farm owners have a difficult time attracting Canadians to farm labour jobs. As a result, Canada has been importing farm workers for decades. Farm workers from other countries love coming to Canada because the pay is exponentially higher and the work is easier than in their home countries.
But Natyshak doesn't seem to understand that. In reality, the farm worker program provides the agricultural industry with desperately needed labour, and the workers with better wages and conditions than they get back home. That's right. Farm workers are better off in Canada than they are in their countries of origin.
It's certainly sad that 2 farm workers have died in the current epidemic. But Natyshak's alarmism is exactly that: alarmism. Natyshak seems to be misinformed about even the basic rules around foreign workers. The program for temporary foreign workers is a success. So if you ate today, thank a farmer and thank a migrant farm worker.
Natyshak says that 2 migrant farm workers have died from Covid-19 and action must be taken "before more lives are lost." Sounds alarming, doesn't it? At least Natyshak makes it sound that way.
The provincial government has allocated money to farms for the purchase of protective equipment for workers. Natyshak criticizes it saying, "cutting cheques to farmers" is a "disastrous plan." Really? The farm is the employer and the employer provides the protective equipment. It is the employer who provides the protective equipment in every single industry in Ontario. How is this "disastrous?" Would Natyshak prefer giving the money to the migrant farm workers and then force them to go out and find protective equipment on their own?
Natyshak says migrant farm workers should get "guaranteed paid sick days." But Natyshak doesn't seem to realize that migrant farm workers get the same pay and benefits as anyone else. According to Employment and Social Development Canada: "You must provide temporary foreign workers with the same wages and benefits as those provided to Canadian and permanent resident employees working in the same occupation." Yep. That's the law. You can look it up on the Government of Canada website under Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program Wages, working conditions and occupations.
Farm work is physically demanding. Farm owners have a difficult time attracting Canadians to farm labour jobs. As a result, Canada has been importing farm workers for decades. Farm workers from other countries love coming to Canada because the pay is exponentially higher and the work is easier than in their home countries.
But Natyshak doesn't seem to understand that. In reality, the farm worker program provides the agricultural industry with desperately needed labour, and the workers with better wages and conditions than they get back home. That's right. Farm workers are better off in Canada than they are in their countries of origin.
It's certainly sad that 2 farm workers have died in the current epidemic. But Natyshak's alarmism is exactly that: alarmism. Natyshak seems to be misinformed about even the basic rules around foreign workers. The program for temporary foreign workers is a success. So if you ate today, thank a farmer and thank a migrant farm worker.