Introduction (Audio instructions for the Reflection Paper are attached) In this webquest, you’ll explore a variety of resources about 3 different policies related to immigration – the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program and the policy of indefinite immigration detention. Before you begin this exercise, it’s a good idea to review the Migrant Workers in Canada Today Powerpoint presentation posted in this module. It will give you some context for the articles in the Webquest. Keep a piece of paper and a pen handy (or a blank document open on your computer) as you follow the webquest links and take notes and answer the questions as you go. For each topic, follow the listed links and as you read the web pages, you’ll be asked to gather some information and answer some questions about what you think. At the end of each unit, you’ll be asked to describe the solution that you think best addresses the problems discussed in the web pages you explored — this will help you with your Reflection Paper. In your Reflection Paper assignment due on -, you’ll quote one of the websites that you read, write about the issue you learned about and, in addition, discuss the solution you support as part of your answer to Question #4. See the Reflection Paper and Discussion Posting Assignment sheet in this module for more information. Finally, you’ll use what you’ve learned to answer one of the Discussion Questions on the Module 7 Discussion Board, and you will post a meaningful reply to one of your classmate’s posts by – Let’s get started! Immigration Detention Immigrant Detention in Canada, the Basics: https://ploughshares.ca/pl_publications/7-facts-about-immigration-detention-in-canada/ Summary of main issues: https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2020/02/11/Canada-Arbitrarily-Detains-Migrants/ Yes, we lock up children too: https://ccrweb.ca/sites/ccrweb.ca/files/detention-children-infographic.pdf https://ccrweb.ca/sites/ccrweb.ca/files/children-detention-nov-2019.pdf https://www.geramilaw.com/blog/children-being-held-in-immigration-detention.html Why is Canada locking up immigrant children? What impact does that have on children? COVID — and hunger strikes among the detainees — has forced the government to change this questionable practice: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/immigration-detainees-released-covid-1.5795659 Read the section under “23 April 2021”: https://www.globaldetentionproject.org/countries/americas/canada Finally, COVID has shown us that we don’t have to detain immigrants: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/06/canada-path-abolishing-immigration-detention/ As this article says, In 2020-21, the border agency only held 1,605 migrants in detention, and British Columbia is reviewing whether they can stop detaining any in that province: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/01/31/one-province-takes-the-first-step-to-end-canadas-immigrant-detention-system.html What is the solution to the problem caused by immigration detention? Record your solution so that you can write about it in your Reflection Paper if you choose a quotation from the websites about this topic. Temporary Foreign Workers As you read (& watch), consider these two questions: Why are employers bringing in workers from other countries? Why couldn’t the Canadian government admit these workers as immigrants? Canada’s Wrongs: read and watch video on all 3 of these pages: https://exhibits.library.utoronto.ca/exhibits/show/canadianlawandidentity/cdnwrongshome/cdnwrongsmw https://exhibits.library.utoronto.ca/exhibits/show/canadianlawandidentity/cdnwrongshome/cdnwrongsmw/cdnwrongsmw2 https://exhibits.library.utoronto.ca/exhibits/show/canadianlawandidentity/cdnwrongshome/cdnwrongsmw/cdnwrongsmw3 This is an educational document made for TFWs: http://www.migrantworkersalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Tw-2.pdf What does it tell you that you didn’t already know? Read the Canadian Council for Refugees recommendations for reforming the TFW program here: https://ccrweb.ca/en/ccr-response-huma-report Read a much more straight-forward approach here: http://migrantworkersalliance.org/about-us/demands/ What do you think the solution is? If you were the Canadian government, what would you do? Record your solution so that you can write about it in your Reflection Paper if you choose a quotation from the websites about this topic. SAWP and Activist’s work to change conditions: As you read: make a list of working and living conditions that SAWP workers have complained about make a list of the activists and organizations that are working to improve the conditions and situation for SAWP workers Despite the pandemic, Canada’s agricultural sector made record profits in 2021, at the same time, at least 5 SAWP workers have died of COVID that they contracted at their jobs. https://thenarwhal.ca/covid-19-migrant-farmworkers/ https://www.chatelaine.com/living/features-living/migrant-farm-workers-covid/ International media is noticing the problems: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/20/canada-migrant-farm-workers-coronavirus?CMP=share_btn_fb&fbclid=IwAR2RsnPOKAM5FpUfHXY4gtb8XMg5gS6ML4p5cjluhava30TyqXX6TN1urT Read these stories about the abuse of farm workers. Notice what activist groups are doing to try to change these conditions. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/migrant-workers-farm-deaths-report-1.5602596 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/migrant-worker-mexico-juan-l%C3%B3pez-chaparro-1.5621866 Activism among and for female SAWP workers: http://www.canadianlabourinstitute.org/story/dark-harvest This union, in particular, has helped organize and defend SAWP workers: http://www.ufcw.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32402:ufcw-helps-migrant-worker-in-ontario-escape-abusive-workplace&catid=10096&Itemid=6&lang=en Canada and Mexico’s deeply flawed Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program turns 40 – UFCW Canada – Canada’s Private Sector Union Forty years ago, the Canadian and Mexican governments came together to create the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP). At the time, the SAWP was seen as the perfect answer to an agricultural labour shortage in Canada and poverty and rural unemployment in Mexico. UFCW Canada – Canada’s Private Sector Union http://www.ufcw.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32855:ufcw-canada-is-joined-by-mexican-officials-in-calling-for-urgent-reforms-to-temporary-foreign-worker-program&catid=10226&Itemid=6&lang=en Click on the photo in this link: http://www.ufcw.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2494:agriculture-workers-alliance-now-10000-members-strong–and-growing&Itemid=6&lang=en What do you think is the best solution to the problems outlined in these articles? Record your solution so that you can write about it in your Reflection Paper if you choose a quotation from the websites about this topic.
