Migrant Justice

KAIROS’ response to federal budget 2021

May 4, 2021

Heralded as a shift from the Washington Consensus, a doctrine of free-market economic policies that prioritizes austerity over social support, Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience outlines $101.4 billion in new spending targeted at those who were hit hard by pandemic – specifically women. While KAIROS applauds the shift to greater social…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Migrant Justice

New resource centre for migrant farm workers opens in Simcoe

May 3, 2021

From an article published in the Hamilton Spectator on April 30, 2021. The Centre for Migrant Worker Solidarity opens in Simcoe. They are a KAIROS partner of the Empowering Temporary Foreign Workers (ETFW) during COVID-19 project. This project is funded…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Online ecumenical meetings to support migrant workers

April 29, 2021

An invitation to all churches and church representatives   More and more migrant farm workers are arriving every day and they need our support this year more than ever. We are all feeling the stress of year 2 of the pandemic…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice, Regional News

KAIROS responds to federal plan to grant permanent residency to temporary foreign workers

April 21, 2021

The federal government’s plan to grant permanent residency to more than 90,000 temporary foreign workers and graduated international students is long-awaited welcome news. This move will help safeguard the safety and security of migrant workers who are invaluable to Canada, especially during the pandemic.    Unfortunately, because the plan applies only to individuals with valid work permits, it means thousands of undocumented workers are in…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Letter to the Editor: Ottawa to grant residency to 90,000 workers, students

April 19, 2021

Published in The Globe and Mail on April 19, 2021. Re: Ottawa To Grant Residency To 90,000 Workers, Students The federal government’s plan to grant permanent residency to more than 90,000 temporary foreign workers and graduated international students is long-awaited welcome…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Request for collaboration for supporting temporary foreign workers

February 23, 2021

The Request for Collaboration is now closed due to overwhelming response. Thank you for your interest. For those who have already submitted a request we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

History of migrant workers’ outreach at Carlisle/Kilbride United Churches

February 18, 2021

Every year they arrive from Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean islands.   Our migrant workers come to our shores to labour in our local nurseries and crop farms to provide the workforce so essential to the economy…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice, Regional News

MEDIA RELEASE: Federal funds aid KAIROS and partner support to agriculture workers

February 17, 2021

$2.1M in funding to assist temporary foreign workers who are affected by COVID   (Ottawa, ON) – KAIROS Canada is pleased to announce that the Government of Canada has awarded it $2.18 million to support and to assist temporary foreign workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the agricultural sector.  Funded by the Government of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program,…

Post filed in: Media Releases, Migrant Justice

KAIROS 2021 Wish List

February 3, 2021

As Canada continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize that we are in a ‘kairos’ moment. In that spirit, KAIROS Canada wishes the following in 2021…  That the Canadian government, provinces and territories: Work with Indigenous family members and survivors, gender-diverse people, and Indigenous…

Post filed in: Calls To Action, Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Migrant Justice

December 18 is International Migrants Day

December 15, 2020

Sometimes this important recognition gets lost, especially for Christians, in the preparations for Christmas. Yet when we really think about the Christmas story, we meet God’s people on the move, travelling to meet imperial demands, fleeing in terror at imperial edicts. Sacred texts…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Letter to the Editor: If Canada is serious about ending systemic racism, take a hard look at temporary foreign worker program

November 4, 2020

Written by Connie Sorio, Migrant Justice Program Coordinator at KAIROS. Originally published in The Hill Times on November 4, 2020.

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Just transformation needed now: KAIROS responds to the 2020 Speech from the Throne

September 30, 2020

The Government of Canada addressed the pandemic – “our generation’s crossroad” – and how it plans to “build back better” in the much-anticipated Speech from the Throne on September 23. The speech touched on racism, gender and income inequality, the environmental crisis, dislocation, and the struggles facing Indigenous and global communities.   While the government addressed each issue separately, they intersect and are amplified by a pandemic that exacerbates human…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Migrant Justice

KAIROS joins #StatusforAll and Landed Status Now campaign

June 16, 2020

KAIROS joins the Migrant  Rights  Network in calling on the federal government  to  provide  Status for All and Landed Status Now.    COVID-19 has exposed deep inequities, including those faced by foreign migrant workers who are needed in Canada to care…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

June 16 webinar: COVID-19, migrant & undocumented workers

June 5, 2020

Previous webinar recordings are now available. How is COVID-19 impacting foreign migrant workers in Canada? KAIROS’ Migrant Justice Coordinator, Connie Sorio, presents updates from some of Canada’s leading migrant justice advocates in a series of webinars. Join us for the…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

More action needed to keep migrant workers safe, advocate says after cluster of Manitoba COVID-19 cases

June 5, 2020

Diwa Marcelino, an organizer with Migrante Manitoba and KAIROS Steering Committee Member, says the province must step up inspections to protect temporary foreign workers in the province. (Photo: John Einarson/CBC)Take Action! Please write to your Member of Parliament and urge the government to give all migrants in…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

From disposable to indispensable: providing foreign migrant workers with a pathway to permanent residency

May 11, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic reveals how foreign migrant workers contribute to Canada’s economy and society by doing the jobs that too few Canadians want. Their work ensures that our food industry thrives, that young, elderly, and at-risk Canadians receive proper care,…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice, Op Eds

Urge Canada to protect all migrant workers with residency status now!

May 5, 2020

With COVID-19 exposing and enhancing the vulnerability of migrant workers, your help is needed now more than ever.    Migrant workers deserve our deepest respect for the work they do. They have a right to be safe and secure both in their workplaces and at home. They…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Letter to the Editor: Granting residency to migrant workers would demonstrate genuine appreciation for their services

May 4, 2020

Re: Alberta Cargill’s Alberta beef plant to reopen next week after COVID-19 outbreak forced closure (April 30): The COVID-19 outbreak at two beef-processing plants in southern Alberta highlights vulnerabilities faced by foreign migrant workers in Canada. It also reveals how much…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Migrant workers are not to blame for outbreak in meat-packing plants

April 30, 2020

KAIROS offers thoughts and prayers to the families of the meat-packing plant workers who recently succumbed to COVID-19, and extends solidarity and support to the temporary foreign workers and immigrants facing discrimination and being blamed for the coronavirus outbreaks at the Cargill and JBS meat-packing plants in Alberta. …

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Letter to federal ministers with direct oversight of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

April 20, 2020

In its letter to those federal ministers with direct oversight of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, KAIROS expresses appreciation for the government’s inclusive and positive response to calls for assistance from temporary foreign workers, especially seasonal agricultural workers, and emphasizes…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Advocates urge protection for migrant workers travelling to Canada amid COVID-19 restrictions

March 25, 2020

Migrant worker advocates want the federal government to improve protections for foreign labourers travelling to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The comments come as the federal government reassured farmers that, despite new travel restrictions, foreign workers will be allowed into Canada…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Federal Court of Canada to hear challenge to designation of the U.S. as a safe third country for refugees

October 29, 2019

KAIROS supports the legal challenge against the flawed Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States of America, and would like to call its members, migrant and refugee rights’ advocates to join the rally on November 4th at 12:30 pm…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice

Priorities for Canada’s 43rd Parliament

October 25, 2019

Canadians have elected a minority government. Collaboration is critical for the survival of Canada’s 43rd Parliament and is urgently needed to appropriately address mounting and systemic issues. Indigenous rights and wellbeing, the climate crisis, migrant justice, and support and protection…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Migrant Justice

Forced displacement in the Philippines by climate change and greed – again

September 22, 2019

I joined more than 60 delegates from approximately 24 countries in a visit to three communities in the Greater Manila Area that are impacted by poverty, displacement and climate change. The visit was part of the Beyond Labels, Beyond Borders…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Migrant Justice

America is a mass grave

June 25, 2019

An ensemble of living and non-living beings is calling an alarm: América es una fosa común. America is a mass grave. According to the Government of Mexico, at least 200,000 people have been murdered and 40,000 people have been disappeared since 2006…

Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Migrant Justice

KAIROS celebrates new Caregiver Pilot Programs and extension of the Interim Pathway

June 19, 2019

KAIROS Canada applauds the Government of Canada for delivering on its promise of improving the lives and working conditions of migrant caregivers. At a press conference on June 15, the Minister of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada unrolled two new…

Post filed in: Migrant Justice