Essential workers are heroes. So why are we ignoring migrant farm workers? GlobeDebate
. Many are typically given bunk-style housing, with no space to move around and many issues around sanitation, pests and safety. A 2018 government study found that there were gaps in the bunkhouse inspection process; however, amid lobbying by powerful agricultural groups, no action was taken.
The situation is worsened by the fact that migrant workers have long felt hesitant to come forward and criticize their employers, since their immigration status is dependent upon them. Indeed, even though they do the critical work of tending to Canada’s food chain, they are not eligible for permanent residency in Canada.
Migrant workers and their advocates have been warning for months now that work and living conditions at farms were ripe for uncontrolled outbreaks; sadly, this has come to pass. The government now needs to act swiftly with new regulations on housing standards, quarantine, sanitation, and PPE. When there are outbreaks at farms, they need to be temporarily closed for sanitation. Bunkhouses need to be phased out and replaced with good-quality housing.
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