How we treat migrant workers who put food on our tables

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Every year thousands of migrants come to work in Canada. From harvesting the food in our stores to caring for the elderly, these workers form a vital part of the economy. Yet despite being

critical, they often face harsh conditions, isolation, abuse, injury and even death as a result of immigration policies designed to leave them powerless.

Documentary filmmaker and OCAD University professor Min Sook Lee has been documenting the voices of migrant farm workers in Canada for two decades. What she has to say about the treatment of

these workers during COVID-19 shatters any remaining myths about “Canada the Good.” How do we treat the workers who put food on our tables?

For a full transcript of this episode of Don’t Call Me Resilient, go here.

Every week, we highlight articles that drill down into the topics we discuss in the episode.

Fay Faraday explains the history and racist policies that define Canada’s immigration programs.

Peter Vandergeest, Melissa Marschke and Peter Duker highlight the treatment of migrant workers elsewhere in the world and the lessons Canada should learn.

Raluca Bejan and Kristi Allain write about profits trumping COVID-19 protections for migrant seafood workers in Atlantic Canada

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This podcast is produced by The Conversation with a grant for Journalism Innovation from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. It is hosted and produced by Vinita Srivastava.

The producer is Nahid Buie. Production help from Ibrahim Daair, Anowa Quarcoo, Latifa Abdin, Vicky Mochama, Nehal El-Hadi. Sound engineer: Reza Dahya. Audience development: Lisa Varano.

Theme music by Zaki Ibrahim. Logo by Zoe Jazz. Saniya Rashid is our research assistant supported by MITACS. Our CEO is Scott White. Thanks to Jennifer Moroz for her advice. Launch team:

Imriel Morgan/Content is Queen.