‘Regularization for all’ mobilization continues

Migrante Alberta in Edmonton at Sir Winston Churchill Square

Sept. 18, 2022 nationwide protests

By Michelle Chermaine Ramos
LJI Reporter
The Philippine Reporter

Migrant workers groups, refugees, undocumented workers, international students, advocates, and supporters united in organized nationwide protests across Canada on September 18, 2022.

Protestors rallied in Toronto, Vancouver, Charlottetown, Clarksburg, Edmonton, Frederickton, Guelph, Miramichi, Montreal, Ottawa, St John’s and Sudbury the day before Parliament returned to demand equal rights and permanent resident status for all.

In our previous coverage of the regularization for all protests, a survey by Migrante Quebec showed that Filipinos will risk being undocumented if they lose their legal status leaving them vulnerable to employer abuse in harsh work conditions. Additionally, the enforcement of Quebec’s French language law on June 1, 2022, created additional barriers for immigrant, migrant, indigenous and other groups, sparking a protest in front of Premier Legault’s office on July 17, 2022.

Many of these foreign workers lose their status through no fault of their own and are paying taxes without benefitting from the same rights and privileges that other taxpayers have. Some undocumented Filipino migrants and those from other countries who are threatened with deportation are afraid to return to their countries of origin because they fear persecution and have no assurance of their personal safety where human rights are being violated.

Cheney De Guzman of Migrante Quebec

The Philippine Reporter spoke with Cheney De Guzman of Migrante Quebec once more regarding this pressing issue.

Were there any developments since the protest in front of Legault’s office on July 17? Why was another protest for regularization for all needed yesterday?

CDG: There was a special program in discussion on the table and steps were made and also some programs during the pandemic crisis. The Quebec province would like to have authority of selection in economic immigration and the consent of Quebec is indispensable for the regularization program.

Were there new issues brought up in this September 18 protest?

CDG: The usual demands of different member alliances of the Migrant Rights Network is to not leave anyone behind. It means status for all. The main demand of the Immigrant Workers Center is to include Quebec in the application of the program. Migrante Canada calls for status for all and to let Danilo de Leon stay. Abolish the high-level language benchmarks in English and French. Good enough to work, good enough to stay.

Danilo De Leon (center) with fellow protestors

It rained in Montreal yesterday. What did you do instead?

CDG: The rain did not falter the spirit of different nationalities and groups. A hundred walked and there were speakers from PINAY, United Refugees Council, Comité de soutien de Mamadou Konaté, la communauté des Demandeurs d’asile d’origine Haïtienne, L’Echo des Femmes, Guinéens Unis Pour Le Statut, Communauté Angolaine de Montréal and SSF.

Have you heard any feedback from the other protest organizers in Canada?

CDG: Spirits are high and there will be more coordinated protests.

Was anyone able to speak with any government officials? If so, what did they say?

CDG: There were invitations sent but none committed to come.

Supporters can support the Migrant Rights Network’s online petition here: https://migrantrights.ca/take-action/permanent-resident-status/

SEE RELATED STORIES

Stay order issued on Migrante head deportation
https://philippinereporter.com/index.php/2022/09/09/stay-order-issued-on-migrante-head-deportation/

Pinoys will risk being undocumented if they lose legal status
https://philippinereporter.com/index.php/2022/08/12/pinoys-will-risk-being-undocumented-if-they-lose-legal-status/

Quebec’s Bill 96: Language law creates barriers to immigrant, indigenous, other groups
https://philippinereporter.com/index.php/2022/07/22/quebec-s-bill-96-language-law-creates-barriers-to-immigrant-indigenous-other-groups/

Quebec migrant workers rally for regularization for all
https://philippinereporter.com/index.php/2022/07/22/quebec-migrant-workers-rally-for-regularization-for-all/