Migrante deplores govt's "almost blanket opposition" to reforming Live-In Caregiver Program - Opposition parties also blamed

Dear friends,

While some had hoped that the parliamentary committee reports released last Spring would amount to real changes on temporary migration policies in Canada, the press release below confirms that the Conservatives governing this country are opposed to following any recommendations for change - whether small or large. Similarly, despite the brief moment of spotlight afforded to live-in caregivers rights through the Ruby Dhalla case, most opposition parties have not pushed hard for the recommendations to be implemented.

As Migrante Ontario concludes in its press release, it remains to be seen how the issue of live-in caregivers and other temporary migrants are taken up in the election battle.

Salimah Valiani

September 14, 2009

Pushing for fundamental changes in the Live-in Caregiver Program

Migrante-Ontario is extremely disappointed at the Conservative Government of Canada's response to the recommendations presented by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in its May 2009 report Temporary Foreign Workers and Non-Status Workers.

In its response released August 19th, the Conservative Government issued a sweeping blow against the hope of many foreign temporary workers including live-in caregivers. The Government through Minister Jason Kenney of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, outlined its strong opposition to proposed changes in the Live-in Caregiver Program.

The government has opposed the following vital recommendations of the Standing Committee: 1) "provide for a possible one-year extension of the three-year period during which a live-in caregiver must complete 24 months of employment in order to be eligible to apply for permanent resident status;" 2) the implementation of the "Juana Tejada Law;" and the 3) removal of the ‘live-in' requirement.

This almost blanket opposition to vital recommendations reflects the government's lack of understanding of what caregivers have been going through all these years. It was a slap on the face of all caregivers who suffered and are suffering from cruel conditions that LCP brings. By opposing the proposed fundamental changes, the government has done a great disservice to the most vulnerable workers in Canadian society.

The Conservative Government also opposed the possibility of granting all foreign temporary workers a "pathway to permanent residency" arguing that "labour needs are not all permanent" and "some other needs fluctuate with the economy and are sometimes unpredictable."

We think however that the government fails to see the importance of labour in the context of human necessity. We need to understand that many of these foreign workers have left their country in search of a better life in Canada, hoping that they would stay long enough to provide for their families. If the government does not provide them with the opportunity of becoming permanent residents, many of them may just soon go back again to ground zero in terms of providing their families even with very basic needs. This minority government should stop treating its foreign temporary workers like disposable goods. (...)

(Full release at www.migrante.ca)