Deportation order against migrant activist Gina Bahiwal cancelled

Deportation order against migrant activist Gina Bahiwal cancelled

Gina Bahiwal was invited to speak before a parliamentary committee in Ottawa last year that led to the revocation of the rule that banned migrant workers from Canada for four years after being here for four. She is now being deported under that rule despite the fact it was quashed. (JUSTICIA FOR MIGRANT WORKERS)
File photo courtesy of Toronto Star

Toronto, Jan 13th, 2017/ – Prominent migrant worker activist Gina Bhaiwal is celebrating today after learning that her deportation order has been cancelled by the federal government. Bahiwal was to be deported this Sunday January 15th at 9:30pm. Upon hearing about Bahiwal’s imminent deportation, hundreds of people across Canada wrote letters of support to cancel her deportation.

Gina (Gregorgina) Bahiwal came to Canada from the Philippines in 2008 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and has worked in vegetable-packing, housekeeping, and fast food. Throughout her time in Canada, Gina has been a bedrock for justice in the community. This has included advocating tirelessly for the rights of migrant workers like her, particularly among migrant women, providing mutual aid and services to other workers, and exposing the exploitative practices of recruiters. Gina has appeared in the documentary The End of Immigration, helped organize the J4MW Pilgrimage to Freedom in 2011, gave a deputation on migrant rights to the federal HUMA Standing Committee, and spoke at a press conference on Parliament Hill for the launch of the 2016 J4MW Harvesting Freedom campaign.

Quotes

This is a victory for all migrant workers, however the fight is not over yet. Myself and the other workers are going to continue to organize and to fight against the injustices of our immigration where we are tied to a single employer. The only solution is permanent immigration status on arrival for all temporary foreign workers. Thank you to everyone who showed solidarity with me. Let’s continue to organize together so we create a society based on compassion and fairness for all workers, migrants and Canadians.
Gina Bahiwal, Migrant activist

I’m relieved that reason has prevailed and that the government has decided against deporting a champion of migrant worker rights who fought hard to overturn a law that she herself was a victim of. The optics of removing such a community leader were not good. I’m glad that Gina can remain in Canada and await a decision on her humanitarian application.
Richard Wazana, Lawyer

People across the country came together and stood in solidarity with Gina. Public pressure leads to change. We celebrate this victory as we remember all migrants who have been deported, detained, injured and died and who, like Gina, continue to organize for broad-based change to end injustices faced by migrant workers in workplaces and communities across Canada.
Justice for Migrant Workers

Justice for Migrant Workers has been fundraising for Bahiwal’s legal fees and will continue to support the leadership of migrant workers like her in their struggle for justice and dignity.

(PRESS RELEASE)