CANADA, March 24, 2020 – Migrant, undocumented, low-waged, racialized organizations across the country, including No One is Illegal – Halifax/K’jipuktuk, are calling on Parliamentarians to ensure comprehensive income supports are immediately accessible to everyone regardless of immigration or previous work status.
Recently announced government programs must be fixed to ensure:
- Sufficient income – 55% of wages is not enough for many;
- Are not restricted to Employment Insurance or CRA programs – these program are not accessible to many including homeless and undocumented people, migrant workers, unemployed, temporary and precarious workers, disabled people, cash workers and more;
- Start immediately – waiting until April is not an option; and
- Ensure access for essential workers – Agricultural, food, domestic, warehouse, delivery, cleaning, gig and app workers, bus and taxi drivers, health care and other workers are the ones ensuring that people across the country are taken care of, including those in quarantine, and migrants that choose not to come.
Members of the Migrant Rights Network, including No One is Illegal – Halifax/K’jipuktuk, reiterate our calls for healthcare, worker protections and community supports for all; and an end to detentions and deportations and permanent resident status for all migrants.
Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s coalition of migrant led organizations. Migrant Rights Network’s demands to the federal government – www.MigrantRights.ca/Covid19 – have been signed on to by over 3,000 people, and endorsed by many national groups including Canadian Labour Congress, CUPE National, Ontario Federation of Labour, CUPE Ontario, UNIFOR, 350 Canada, Council of Canadians, Canadian Federation of Students and Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights.
