Senators and Unions Push for Temporary Migrant Workers to Remain in Canada

Most Canadians support the need for foreign workers, states a new study, which is being used to push for pathways to citizenship or permanent residency for temporary migrant workers across all sectors.

Leading the charge is Senator Ratna Omidvar, who plans to move a motion during the next Senate sitting in February, calling on the government to provide a way for temporary foreign workers to remain in Canada.

“In light of a recent Nanos poll demonstrating strong support amongst Canadians to provide a way for temporary foreign workers to remain in Canada, the Senate call on the Government of Canada to create pathways to citizenship or permanent residency for essential temporary migrant workers across all sectors; and that the Senate call on the Government of Canada to table a status report on this issue within 100 days of the adoption of this order,” her notice of motion reads.

In 2018, 46 per cent of new economic immigrants were former temporary foreign workers—up from 8 per cent in 2000, Statistics Canada reports. Over the 2000-to-2018 period, the number of temporary foreign workers in Canada went up from roughly 60,000 to 429,300 people.

Each year, approximately 60,000 temporary foreign workers come and work on farms across Canada, stated the new poll by Nanos, commissioned by Senator Omidvar and Senator Rob Black to conduct research on the role of temporary foreign workers in the agricultural sector.

Read the full article on The Toronto Star’s website