Demonstrators gathered at a rally in downtown Edmonton on Saturday to urge the federal government to take more action to “regularize” undocumented workers in Canada. Marco Luciano, the director of Migrante Alberta, a non-profit organization that advocates for migrants, expressed the need for the government, specifically Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to fulfill the commitment to address undocumented migrants.
In 2019, the federal government initiated a regularization program for asylum seekers working in the health sector, with plans to expand the initiative. A mandate letter in late 2021 tasked the immigration and citizenship ministry with exploring ways to further regularize the status of undocumented workers contributing to Canadian communities.
The Edmonton rally, part of a series across Canada, coincided with the return of parliamentarians to Ottawa. The goal is to gain support for undocumented migrants who have often been blamed for issues like the housing crisis. Diana Ramirez, an advocate for Latin American migrants in Alberta, emphasized the importance of fully regularizing undocumented workers in the country. She highlighted the challenges migrants face due to constantly changing immigration policies, which may cause them to fall through the cracks of the system.
The rally was organized by the Migrant Rights Network, which also called for the regularization of migrants while criticizing the federal government’s restrictions on study permits. The organization accused Ottawa of hindering the progress of study permit holders, limiting permanent residency, and reducing work permits.
Global News reached out to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller’s office for a response to the rally. The office stated that while Canada has explored options for regularizing undocumented individuals, a broad regularization program is not currently being pursued. The Migrant Rights Network emphasized that without permanent resident status, migrants face mistreatment, exploitation, and family separation in Canada.
Ramirez stressed that many migrants cannot afford legal assistance and are vulnerable to human rights violations. She described migrants as resilient and determined individuals who persevere in challenging situations. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s comments on asylum claimant policies were also scrutinized, with Ramirez expressing a desire for Alberta to welcome everyone and not selectively choose who can stay based on shared values. Smith’s concerns were shared by other provincial premiers, including Blaine Higgs and Tim Houston, who opposed Ottawa’s plan to increase asylum seekers in their provinces.
The Migrant Rights Network condemned legislators who refused to accept asylum seekers and blamed them for service shortages. Despite provincial opposition, Ottawa reassured that it would not force provinces to accept asylum seekers without consent or compensation. The ongoing discussions between federal and provincial authorities aim to distribute asylum claimants based on capacity and willingness to support them. Collaboration and engagement are essential to effectively respond to the challenges of asylum seekers in Canada.
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