International Migrants Day
Speak-Out in Montreal for Status for All Now!
On the morning of December 18, in the pouring rain, some 60 undocumented workers and their allies gathered outside the constituency office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Montreal to once again demand status for all by way of a much-awaited regularization program he committed to two years ago, that would lead to permanent residency for the estimated 500,000 or so undocumented workers living in Canada.
The action was organized jointly by the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC) and Solidarity Across Borders (SAB), in tandem with other events taking place Canada-wide from December 16 to 18, called by the Migrant Rights Network (MNR) on the occasion of International Migrants Day and the fifth anniversary of MNR's founding.
SAB spokesperson Samira Jasmin explained that she and IWC representative Mostafa Henaway would be delivering 400 letters from the undocumented. Addressed to the Prime Minister and Immigration Minister Marc Miller, they are to press upon them the need for a regularization program leading to permanent residency so that no one is left without status and the urgency of the situation in the face of all manner of abuse and violation of their human rights.
Although two years ago, Justin Trudeau mandated his Minister of Immigration to explore ways of regularizing the status of undocumented workers, some 500,000 undocumented workers across Canada, who contribute immensely to Canadian communities and the economy, continue to be without status. They wait, working underground as cheap labour, deprived of their rights and in constant fear of detention or deportation. They and their families are denied decent lodgings and proper health care, their children unable to legally attend school.
A large contingent of Indian migrant workers was present at the gathering as was a delegation of Algerians.
"I am proud of all the people who have come here," said Samira. "We are integrated, we speak many languages, we contribute to the economy of Canada. We are all the same, we work very hard."
Another participant spoke about the human trafficking he and others fell victim to in Montreal, by an immigration and placement agency (operating under the name Trésor) in Laval and a multinational corporation (Newrest) that provides catering and food services for airlines in Canada. At present, the IWC has undertaken legal action against them, in defence of those caught up in the scheme.
SAB also informed that on December 14, Immigration Minister Marc Miller made a promise publicly to propose a "broad and comprehensive program" that would allow undocumented persons to apply for permanent resident status.
Everyone was then asked to hand the letters they had prepared to IWC representative Mostafa Henaway, who, along with Samira, entered the building and headed towards the elevator. As it was raining, many others entered the building at the same time, to wait in the foyer while the letters were delivered to staff working at the constituency office.
Once the letters had been delivered, everyone exited the building, with Samira explaining that the Prime Minister's staff had spoken to them through a glass door, requesting that they leave the letters on the floor.
Many of the participants thanked both representatives for delivering the letters on their behalf and left more convinced than ever as to the justness of their cause and determined to continue the fight until there truly is Status For All!
This article was published in
Volume 53
Number 12 - December 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/M5301214.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca