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Finally got to read the report "Behind Closed Doors"
Fair warning - this is a long tweet/thread. I try not to do too many of these, but this one cause is too important to me as a person and as an immigration lawyer.
Read the report here: https://bit.ly/34DQriZ 1/11
#cdnimm
Fair warning - this is a long tweet/thread. I try not to do too many of these, but this one cause is too important to me as a person and as an immigration lawyer.
Read the report here: https://bit.ly/34DQriZ 1/11
#cdnimm
Horrible. No other way to describe abused caregivers’ working conditions except as slavery. The Canadian government claims to fight human trafficking at the international stage and yet it enables would be … 2/11
…perpetrators of bondage by maintaining its position to classify these essential workers as semi-skilled under NOC C, and never really stepping up to the plate by providing a concrete pathway to permanent residence. 3/11
Whatever attempt to prevent abuse we’ve seen is largely lip service. It’s the same sickening double-speak we hear from politicians who celebrate personal support workers & caregivers at long-term care facilities, 4/11
but not really addressing why they fall into such precarious workplace situation: their insecure immigration status! The Home Care Pilot launched last year is an utter disaster with unworkable processing times. The intent to screen for PR is noble, but the manner it was … 5/11
…implemented not only hurts caregivers, but also Canadian families who need caregivers quickly. Ultimately, Canada is guilty of bait-and-switch by promising permanent residence: come to Canada as an essential worker -- and then they’re left hanging in immigration limbo. 6/11
Canada is also guilty of enabling modern-day slavery if it continues this path. These caregivers live in such precarity that it takes so much courage for them to speak up. This is why those of us who can should all speak up for them. 7/11
100 years ago, Canada gave permanent residence automatically to caregivers. They were, according to historians, governesses, and largely came from Europe, specifically the UK. 8/11
This changed after the WW2 when caregivers from the Caribbean became Canada’s main source of workers in the caregiving sector. Those who deny systemic racism in our immigration system, here’s something to chew on. 9/11
Historians have noted that there was a key policy motive to “preserve Canada’s demographic character,” which is, really, if you break it down, a code for preserving racial integrity and white supremacy. 10/11
This must change. PR status upon landing will empower our essential workers, our caregivers – the ones who take care of our parents, our grandparents, and our children. At the very least, create a Federal Workers Program (FWP) – Care Worker Stream.
It’s time.
11/11
It’s time.
11/11
