He's worked legally in Canada for 37 years but the government considers him ‘temporary’
Low-wage migrant farmworkers are a crucial and growing part of Canada’s economy. Yet in most cases it’s impossible for them to get permanents status, which experts say leaves them vulnerable to exploitation.
By , Thu., Oct. 5, 2017, The Star, https://www.thestar.com/news/c...s-him-temporary.html
Patrick Stanio, 66, From St. Lucia
Canada is Patrick Stanio’s second home, where he is good enough to work but not good enough to stay.
After returning for 37 years to do back-bending work on three different farms in Ontario — spending half his life away from his family in St. Lucia — the 66-year-old migrant worker is anxious about his future. Eventually he’ll become too frail to do the work and too slow for his employer.
Despite his long history here and devotion to his job, Stanio has always been just a guest in Canada. As a low-wage labourer, despite his skills being in demand, he hasn’t been able to qualify for immigration.