Justice for
Migrant Workers, a Toronto non-profit that promotes rights of farm workers
participating in the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, criticized
Singh for social media promotion of his visit to
Windsor-area greenhouses, which they say are part of an industry
that systematically exploits racialized migrants for profit.
The organization
is pressing the NDP to include migrant worker protection in the party’s
platform for the upcoming provincial election next year.
“This industry
has basically been built on the blood sweat and sacrifices of low wage,
racialized, precarious workers,” said Chris Ramsaroop, a Justice for Migrant
Workers advocate.
“It’s concerning
that Jagmeet was there to . . . support an industry that’s based on
exploitation.”
Singh, who does
not have a seat in the House of Commons, has said he is using his time outside
it to travel the country and visit communities to build momentum for the
party’s brand and ideas.
Ramsaroop said
that when migrant workers come to Canada under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker
Program, they’re uniquely susceptible to exploitation because of the conditions
placed on them.
“By tying someone
to a particular employer, what happens is that it silences workers and ensures
that there’s a captive labour force,” Ramsaroop said.
Nor do migrant
workers here, under that program, have the option to apply for permanent
residency.
Singh has been
outspoken on these issues, and included access to legal aid for migrant workers
in his leadership platform.
In an e-mail
statement to the Toronto Star, Singh said he spoke with migrant workers during
his weekend greenhouse visit, and “highlighted the need to increase pathways to
citizenship.”
It looks to me like Justice for Farm Workers just wants to raise the profile of the issue and that it made Singh an unfair victim.
