Recommendations for Health Care Provisions for the New Agriculture and Fish Processing Stream

The Canadian Government has announced the creation of a new program under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) called the Agriculture and Fish Processing Stream, which will replace some previous programs like the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP). The Centre for Migrant Worker Rights Nova Scotia (CMWR NS) submitted a document to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to offer feedback on the health care provisions proposed for the new program. 

In our submission, we highlight current disparities in access to healthcare coverage for migrant workers across Canada. While the TFWP is a federal program, provinces determine whether migrant workers are covered by public health insurance programs. While some provinces grant immediate access to public health insurance to migrant workers in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), others like Nova Scotia do not. As a result, migrant workers must rely on private health insurance, which is tied to their employment. This makes migrant workers disproportionately dependent on their employers, who are the gatekeepers for access to healthcare services. 

In response, CMWR NS recommends that all migrant workers have access to public healthcare coverage on arrival. Even with public healthcare coverage, workers need further protections to ensure they can get to appointments, understand and navigate the Canadian healthcare system, and ultimately receive the care they require.

Other recommendations for workers’ health include: 

• Requiring workplace safety insurance for all migrant workers

• Requiring employers obtain insurance for costs associated with a worker’s death in Canada 

• Extending care for workers to include preventative care in addition to emergency care

• Decoupling healthcare from immigration status 

• Providing all migrant workers with open work permits on arrival and the option of permanent residence status on arrival

We hope that the government will take this opportunity to address previous deficiencies in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and create new programs that uphold the dignity, health, and safety of migrant workers.