If we look at previous components of our history, Dutch farm workers came in with full status. Many of them have laid roots in the communities. Many of them are farmers today.
It's about providing the settlement supports. It's about providing the resources. Every week I get calls. The angriest one over the last couple of weeks was from a gentleman who's worked in rural Ontario for over 30 years. He has 30 years of work tied to an employer, and he was asking when he will have the opportunity to live here as an equal resident. It's about providing the resources to support the infrastructure, and saying that these workers shouldn't be simply seen as labour. They should be provided with open permits and the ability to move to different places.
There was a situation with Trinidadian workers, as all of you were involved in trying to address, where workers were facing a crisis in the winter months because of the tied work permit process. Many of the workers, we have to remember, are skilled farmers in their home country. Whether we're talking about Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, the Philippines or Thailand, many of these people come from rural communities. Their skills and specializations are in agricultural labour. It's time that we provide them with the opportunities to become as equals with us.