Migrant Workers in the Canadian Maritimes
Migrant Workers in the Canadian Maritimes is a research and knowledge dissemination platform coordinated between Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia), St. Thomas University (Fredericton, New Brunswick) and Cooper Institute (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island). It involves the establishment of a collaboration amongst community allies: The Filipino-Canadian CommUNITY of New Brunswick (FCNB); KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives (New Brunswick); United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW); Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre; and intends to examine the health and safety of temporary foreign workers (TFWs).
Permanent Jobs, Temporary People: Temporary Foreign Workers’ Struggle for Permanent Residency in Prince Edward Island
DOWNLOAD P.E.I. REPORT - ENGLISHFalling Short: Troubles with the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program in Nova Scotia
DOWNLOAD NOVA SCOTIA REPORT - ENGLISHUnfree Labour: COVID-19 and Migrant Workers in the Seafood Industry in New Brunswick
DOWNLOAD NEW BRUNSWICK REPORT - ENGLISHSafe at Work, Unsafe at Home: COVID-19 and Temporary Foreign Workers in Prince Edward Island
DOWNLOAD P.E.I. REPORT - ENGLISHDOWNLOAD P.E.I. REPORT - SPANISH
COVID-19 and the health and safety of migrant workers in Maritime Canada
COVID-19 and the health and safety of migrant workers in Maritime Canada is the first project of the current partnership. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, TFWs have continued to form an important part of the workforce in Maritime Canada. While public attention has been focused on impacts of the TFW program on food productivity and continuity during the pandemic, there was little concern about the working and living conditions of the workers themselves.
This project fills this gap by documenting the social impact of COVID-19 on the occupational conditions of TFWs, while paying attention to how access to services and protections for migrants vary across the Maritimes. Further, it aims to increase local capacity for advocacy by generating strategic solidarity between migrant justice organizations in the region.
RESEARCH SITES
- Prince Edward Island
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
Cooper Institute is the partner organization on the project for Prince Edward Island. Cooper Institute is a popular education and community development collective which combines research, community organizing and frontline support to enhance the health and safety of TFWs.
Cooper Institute anchors the current project while working in collaboration with KAIROS, the national office of the UFCW as well as Dalhousie University and St. Thomas University.
Ann Wheatley, the Project Manager from Cooper Institute will work closely with Paola Flores (Project Coordinator) in managing recruitment and data collection for Prince Edward Island.
Cooper Institute anchors the current project while working in collaboration with KAIROS, the national office of the UFCW as well as Dalhousie University and St. Thomas University.
Ann Wheatley, the Project Manager from Cooper Institute will work closely with Paola Flores (Project Coordinator) in managing recruitment and data collection for Prince Edward Island.
KAIROS, a Canadian faith-based social justice organization, has formerly supported diasporic communities in the Maritimes, particularly Filipino TFWs working in the seafood plants. KAIROS co-organized the 2016 Migrant Workers’ Forum in Fredericton that brought together 75 Filipino migrant workers as well as labour union representatives, students and community organizers.
The Filipino-Canadian CommUNITY of New Brunswick (FCNB) is a not-for-profit organization engaged in multicultural, social, civic, educational and charitable activities for the betterment of the Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians in the province of New Brunswick.
Connie Sorio, Migrant Justice Coordinator at KAIROS and Roland Moreno, Founding President and current Board of Director of FCNB, will work closely with Tracy Glynn (Project Coordinator) in managing recruitment and data collection in New Brunswick.
St. Thomas University is based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Kristi Allain, Co-Investigator, will work closely with KAIROS, FCNB and Tracy Glynn in coordinating the project for the region.
The Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre in New Brunswick assists migrant workers with immigration applications, labour complaints and housing and advocates for systemic changes aimed at protecting the rights, equality and dignity of migrant workers. Aditya Rao human rights lawyer and a senior researcher with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in Ottawa will work closely with Tracy Glynn in reviewing the dissemination of our findings.
The Filipino-Canadian CommUNITY of New Brunswick (FCNB) is a not-for-profit organization engaged in multicultural, social, civic, educational and charitable activities for the betterment of the Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians in the province of New Brunswick.
Connie Sorio, Migrant Justice Coordinator at KAIROS and Roland Moreno, Founding President and current Board of Director of FCNB, will work closely with Tracy Glynn (Project Coordinator) in managing recruitment and data collection in New Brunswick.
St. Thomas University is based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Kristi Allain, Co-Investigator, will work closely with KAIROS, FCNB and Tracy Glynn in coordinating the project for the region.
The Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre in New Brunswick assists migrant workers with immigration applications, labour complaints and housing and advocates for systemic changes aimed at protecting the rights, equality and dignity of migrant workers. Aditya Rao human rights lawyer and a senior researcher with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in Ottawa will work closely with Tracy Glynn in reviewing the dissemination of our findings.
Dalhousie University is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Raluca Bejan, Principle Investigator, will work closely with Paola Flores in coordinating the project for the region.
National
The UFCW is the largest union in Canada for agricultural workers and has been strongly involved in advocating for seasonal migrant workers’ rights to unionize. In Québec, for instance, UFCW helped migrant farm workers in signing collective agreements at several agricultural sites.
Derek Johnston, Special Assistant to the National President at UFCW, will support this project in guiding the research team with formulating policy recommendations and disseminating the research findings.
National
The UFCW is the largest union in Canada for agricultural workers and has been strongly involved in advocating for seasonal migrant workers’ rights to unionize. In Québec, for instance, UFCW helped migrant farm workers in signing collective agreements at several agricultural sites.
Derek Johnston, Special Assistant to the National President at UFCW, will support this project in guiding the research team with formulating policy recommendations and disseminating the research findings.