A survey commissioned by two Canadian senators says that more than eight in 10 Canadians would support or somewhat support providing a way for temporary migrant workers to remain in Canada.
The poll was conducted by Nanos Research and was commissioned by Senator Rob Black, an Ontario senator with close ties to agriculture, and Senator Ratna Omidvar.
Why it matters: A path to Canadian residency could be a way to alleviate the travel challenges for temporary foreign workers.
The poll found that 40 per cent of Canadians would support or 41 per cent would somewhat support providing a way for temporary migrant workers to remain in Canada.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary migrant workers have been essential in keeping Canadians safe, healthy, and fed. Although temporary foreign workers pay into the same benefits as domestic workers, in some situations they have difficulty accessing these benefits, due in part to the precarious nature of their immigration status.
“We need more concrete and equitable improvements to our migrant worker programs,” says Omidvar. “Since the workers are essential to our well-being and safety, then the safest, prudent and the most humane way forward is to provide them with more permanent residency options.”
The poll also showed that the vast majority of Canadians agree, at 71 per cent, or somewhat agree (22 per cent) that temporary migrant workers are essential contributors to the agricultural sector in Canada, and that they should be entitled to the same benefits and protections as any other worker (51 per cent agree, 28 per cent somewhat agree).
Migrant workers account for 17 per cent of total employment in the sector.
“The pandemic has highlighted the fact that temporary migrant workers and seasonal agricultural workers are essential to Canada,” said Black.
He said that some of the foreign workers are interested in coming to Canada permanent, but some are not.
“We’re not proposing that everybody should or wants to stay. Absolutely not. I think what we’re proposing is those that wish to have stay be granted access to a variety of pathways to permanent residency.”
– With files from Diana Martin
