Celebrating migrants on International Migrants Day
December 18 is International Migrants Day and KAIROS is hopeful that the winds of positive change blowing across Canada will benefit migrant workers as well.
The generosity and kindness of Canadians is evident as Syrian refugees are welcomed in communities across the country. The federal government has launched a collaborative and inclusive consultative process towards a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Final Report and 94 Calls to Action are receiving wide media coverage.
These encouraging developments give us hope that the situation facing the thousands of migrant workers in Canada also will soon improve. That a path to permanent residence will be available for all migrant workers; that work permits will be open and not tied to a single employer; that migrant workers will fulfill their dreams and aspirations and be reunited with their loved ones.
Early next year, KAIROS will release its Migrant Justice Workshop Guide, a new education and action tool to enhance understanding of migrant justice issues and strengthen solidarity with migrant workers. KAIROS will also work with migrant and diaspora communities to support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 93, which calls on the federal government to work with Indigenous peoples to revise the information kit for newcomers to Canada and its citizenship test to reflect a more inclusive history of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
Today, let us celebrate and salute the contributions of millions of migrant workers worldwide – 232 million according to the International Labour Organization – whose work fuels our economies and supports families and communities back home. And let us continue to work in solidarity for a more just and fair future for everyone.
Happy International Migrants Day!