Next week Canadians will decide what kind of Parliamentary arrangement they would like to represent their country for the next few years. The minority Conservative party is seeking a majority in the vote this upcoming Monday, but they left leaning NDP party is absorbing the opposition Liberals in order to create a government split between Conservative economically focused Members of Parliament and an NDP who likely represents those who have been affected disproportionately by the Great Recession. In reality Canada has fared a lot better than any of their G8 counterparts and has become a country to focus on beyond the BRICS nations that may grow further despite the economic troubles of their cousins in the United States, Britain and Europe. The occurrence of this issueless election seems to have come about due to personal ambitions of all party leaders who really need to decide to act for the citizens of Canada, and not to enter the realm of political games which almost always turns off an electorate that has no issues to discuss and are working to recover economically themselves. The realty of a useless election will punish those candidates who pushed to have that election, or benefit those who were able to push the blame of this useless election on their opponents. The reality is that most countries, even those developed nations, would love to have Canada’s problems in exchange for their own.
The real issues in Canada and this election should be those surrounding groups in the country that do not have a vote, or have one that is negligible in he grand scheme of Canadian politics. The lack of political weight that many smaller immigrant groups have and those resident in Canada have continually pulls attention away from issues which seriously affect their lives and run contrary to their basic rights as voting citizens or those who work in Canada and benefit the country. While those groups come to Canada and live in Canada and follow the laws and produce benefit for the country, the country also needs to respect the equality of all Canadians and respect the rights of those here, even temporarily, and enforce legal protections that exist so equality and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms applies to all those in its jurisdiction. The recent election shows clearly that the voice of many working in and living in Canada is hushed as candidates do not recognise that not just those who can vote as a block have rights, but that freedoms should not be based solely on who has the loudest voice, but on those individuals that contribute personally to a fair and just society.
Researchers at the Canadian policy group on the Americas, named FOCAL, recently published a study and report on female migrant workers in Canada and their rights, or lack thereof, in their countries of origin and working in Canada. The report highlights rights issues that occur when coming to Canada and being foreign and working in Canada. I advise everyone to read the report in detail, but the issues in the FOCAL study seems to indicate that there are many issued faced by migrant workers who come here due to the lack of opportunities for women in their countries of origin, and that many of their rights in Canada are also not recognised. The reality of not having a voice in the Canadian political system and not having the funds or power to respond to their rights is something that might be common in their countries of origin, but their rights should be recognised in Canada under the local legal protections, rights legislation and by political leaders who are there to protect new Canadians and those resident here without the power to defend themselves. The government should never advocate for companies using government public funds and publically trained lawyers and policymakers. The recent election and all candidates have failed new Canadians and immigrants in that they only approach larger immigrant communities and their issues in order to obtain votes, but do nothing to address rights issues that leave new Canadians and migrants to fight alone, fighting to change the laws to create real protections for not only themselves, but all Canadians.
A burning example of the lack of protections for those weaker people in society, those new Canadians and migrant workers that deserve equality but do not get it, is the passing last year of the Ontario Health and Safety Act Amended on Harassment and Violence in the Workplace and the lack of application by the government and politicians of the laws which stand but are not recognised in the current system. While the act has been passed and the laws stand, the government does little to apply the law and condones actions of harassment and violence without response or protections from new Canadians, immigrants and all Canadians living in the Province of Ontario who endure harassment and violence at work.
Migrant women workers are often subject to harassment and perhaps violence and this attitude extends to many new Canadians who are unable to get their legitimate qualifications recognised and are forced into low income industries despite their extensive training. It seems that if you are a migrant worker, or simply a new Canadian or working to becoming one, that you do not have the opportunity like your voting neighbour to a voice in the society, the funds that come with recognition and rights nor even similar working conditions. What has become apparent with migrant workers and new Canadians is that they are in workplaces where they can be taken advantage of and this may even include harassment and violence as they have many barriers to having a stable career, despite following the law, and have no political voice. Without the means to even retain an effective lawyer to protect their rights, legislation regarding protecting workers from violence and harassment like the OHSA Amended often makes the new Canadians and migrants into walking targets as the act does not prescribe how to protect workers, and complaints to the Ministry of Labour of Ontario can be met with harassment and violence against the employees by those assaulting them without any protection from the government. How the law works is that there is no effective protections after a complaint is made and false accusations from the companies are met with acceptance from the Ministry challenged to protect workers rights, but instead advocate for actions by companies under the OHSA Amended. While those actions are illegal and may even fall under the criminal legislation, workplace legislation leaves new Canadians, migrants and all workers to be subject to actions even after they are assaulted, injured and speak up to their rights.
Politicians should acknowledge the rights of new Canadians, visitors and all those who benefit the country and follow the laws that exist, and not offer excuses why it is acceptable for anyone, foreign or voter, to be assaulted in any form or fashion within its borders. While this election does not speak to any issues, it is assured that those issues exist in every community and town in the country. This could be the most significant ignored issue in this election. Rights are paramount in society, and if there is a lack of rights for any individual it is the responsibility of the government and political leaders to actively fight and challenge for all Canadians to be safe to build the country further.