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MIGRANT WATCH
Filipino
Alliance Launched in Canada vs Discrimination, Others
A
new alliance of Filipinos in Canada aims to tackle issues affecting
live-in caregivers, access to professions and trades, policing and
community safety.
By Edwin C. Mercurio
Bulatlat
TORONTO
- Braving one of the most vicious snowstorms that hit Canada in recent
weeks, Filipino and other ethnic community leaders trudged on blinding
snow blizzard to launch what is reputed to be one of the most vibrant
community organizations in North America - the Community Alliance for
Social Justice (CASJ) on Jan. 22.
The CASJ was
launched at snow-covered Scarborough Civic Center, 45 kms north of
Toronto. The civic center where the government building is located is
accessible by wading on knee-deep snow and slippery pathways under minus
30-degree freezing temperature.
Retired
lawyer and Civil Court Registrar Rudy Butihin who - along with
representatives of women and youth, caregivers, trades and professionals
and the Justice for Jeffrey Coalition - inducted the officers of CASJ said
he joined the alliance “because he sees the need to strengthen the
Filipino community and to support its advocacy and political actions.”
After their
induction, CASJ executive committee and board members conducted a mass
oath-taking of new members swelling its ranks to 22 organizations
and more than a hundred members.
The
community-based alliance aims to carry forward its mandate based on the
Oct. 30 Conference and Consultation held last year at the Metro Hall of
Toronto. For the first time as an alliance of community organizations,
Filipino community leaders will tackle issues affecting live-in
caregivers, access to professions and trades, policing and community
safety.
On the
live-in caregiver issue, CASJ will launch a campaign to change the live-in
caregiver program in accordance with the three-point recommendation
submitted to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The live-in
requirement allows for a 24-hour, round-the-clock service from skilled
workers, 93 percent of whom are Filipinos.
Connie Sorio,
vice co-chair of CASJ, said this condition gave rise “to exploitation and
abuse encountered by workers in the hands of their employers. The live-in
requirement represents indentured slavery in the 21st century,”
she said.
For permanent residence
In a press
conference held before the launching, Pura Velasco, CASJ co-chair, said
that caregivers must be granted permanent resident status, allowed to
bring their families, just like other immigrants to Canada thus avoiding
the personal and social costs resulting from years of separation from
family members.
Access to
programs and social services are presently denied to caregivers who are
currently in the program (LCP), such as social services, basic employment
rights, affordable housing, reunification and social integration supports,
skills training and legal services.
The CASJ
position paper also urges Canada to sign the UN Convention on the
Protection of the Rights and Welfare of all migrant workers and their
families.
The Alliance
plans to hold a national conference early part of this year on the Live-in
Caregiver Program and the exploitation of caregivers leading to a unified
stand and demands by the broad alliance.
On the issue
of Access to Trades and Professions, the alliance plans to hold meetings
with community-based professional associations, engineers, nurses,
doctors, lawyers, etc and investigate the conditions of their
non-recognized status as foreign-trained professionals.
On Policing
and Community Safety, CASJ supports and joins the campaign for an
independent investigation and adjudication body and process to deal with
civilian complaints against police. Bulatlat
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© 2004 Bulatlat
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