Rallies planned to support migrant workers

VANCOUVER — Rallies are planned in cities across Canada today, including in Vancouver and Victoria, calling the federal immigration minister to grant permanent resident status to migrant workers.

Organizers say this comes as two five-year caregiver pilot programs — the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot — are set to expire on June 17th.

Julie Diesta, a migrant workers program coordinator at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, says this means those who have not yet been granted permanent resident status could face deportation or become undocumented.

Diesta, who is a spokeswoman for the Vancouver rally, says the rally’s goal is to encourage Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration Minister Marc Miller to grant these workers status without what organizers say are unfair language and education requirements.