Potential changes to temporary foreign worker rules worry farmers, people reliant on caregivers

Ottawa's agriculture and caregiving sectors may need to brace for impact if the government refuses low-wage temporary foreign workers (TFW) from coming to Canada.

Farmers in the region, such as Foster Family Farm, rely on these workers to produce their seasonal crops, while in the caregiving sector, many Filipino TFWs fill those necessary positions to care for elders and children. 

On Tuesday, the federal government stated they were considering blocking applications for low-wage TFWs.

Local farming

If the government follows through, some farmers say they worry they could be left with nobody working in their fields, helping provide fresh fruits and vegetables to local residents. 

"It would be a huge hit for us," said Mel Foster, co-owner of Foster Family Farms, who's employed TFWs for over two decades.

The refusal would apply to workers that make below the median hourly wage in each province and territory, which is $28.39 in Ontario. Canada also has an agricultural TFW program.

Foster said "there's no way" they could continue to operate if they lost all their TFWs — this year, they hired 21.

"What are the farmers supposed to do if they cancel this program? Like we can't get people now," he said. 

Foster said Canadians don't want to do that type of work because it's seasonal, hard work and low paying, he said.  

As a result, his lead farmer, and a temporary foreign worker, has been with them for 16 years, and he said several others return season after season. 

Mike Milsom, owner of Mike's Garden Harvest in Gloucester, experiences the same. 

He partook in the TFW program for two years, which he said was a positive experience, but he couldn't continue to use it due to its costs.

But now, he said his team is much smaller due to the lack of local employees he could find to hire.

Jonathan Bruderlein, president of Ottawa Farm Fresh, said this program is a way for employees to return each season who are trained and qualified.

"It's not to say that the program isn't without its faults, but it does form a backbone of agricultural production here in Canada," Bruderlein said. 

'This means everything to us'

Donovan Carridice has been the assistant lead farmer at Foster Family Farm for 12 years. He says he's worried about the program shutting down as it would prevent him from coming back to work in Canada. 

"Not just me, but all my family that I take care of back [in Jamaica], they would lose a lot," he said. 

Carradice said he makes $20.05 an hour and doesn't know what he would do if he lost the job. 

He said he "loves it here" and is working to become a permanent resident, just like his son who was granted that status two years ago. Carridice said it's allowed him to receive a better education. 

We could make money in Jamaica because [of] what I do, but it's nothing compared to here.- Howard Ricketts

"We're just worried about it and just hope that you [the government] just give us a chance — we're here to work and we're working," he said. "This [program] means everything to us."

Foster's lead farmer, Howard Ricketts, says education for his children is also one of his big goals. He's been working on the farm for 16 years, and because of that, he's been able to put four of his eight kids through university back home. 

 "We could make money in Jamaica because what [of] I do, but it's nothing compared to here," he said.  

Ricketts said he lives in a "posh" place at the Foster Farm — with a queen bed, a television and surround sound — and feels the crew has become family. 

He said if he didn't like the way the program was run, he would have left after the first year.

Caregiving

If the program changes restrictions, Ottawa's caregiving sector will also take a hit. 

For the past five years, the government offered a caregiving stream under the TFW program, attracting many Filipino women to Canada to work. 

That program ended in June but the feds announced a new pilot project which could launch as soon as this fall. 

Aimee Beboso, chairperson of Migrante Ottawa, which supports Filipino migrant workers, said Canada is a promising country for them because the stream offered them opportunities to apply for permanent residency, ultimately leading to citizenship.  

She said if they are blocked from applying, they could be at greater risks. 

The entire system is rotten to the core- Chris Ramsaroop, Justice for Migrant Workers

"They will just find work somewhere else in the world because unfortunately, there are not enough jobs in the Philippines, which means that sometimes some places have even less respect for workers rights, so they'll even be more vulnerable in those countries," Beboso added.

She said the workers that come here are skilled, educated and qualified and deserve to have the same rights as any Canadian. She hopes their wages, and Canadians, will be increased to a livable standard. 

"We have to recognize also the contribution that they do in this country," Beboso added. 

Misuse and abuse

In a media statement, Employment and Workforce Development Minister Randy Boissonnault said bad actors have been abusing and misusing the TFW program, which has caused the consideration for further restrictions.

Chris Ramsaroop with Justice for Migrant Workers says the program is a system of exploitation. 

"This is not about a few bad apples, the entire system is rotten to the core," he said. 

He says he's concerned about the inspection process of their living and working conditions, and that health and safety issues are not being taken seriously. 

"They [the government] haven't taken necessary steps to end this injustice," Ramsaroop added.