Good afternoon, Chair and committee members.
UFCW Canada advocates for workers representing over a quarter of a million Canadians, including temporary foreign workers. For over 30 years, we have supported migrant workers in 80,000 cases that have addressed open border permits for vulnerable workers, worker compensation, the Canada pension plan, EI benefits, and health and safety training, all in their languages, at no cost.
In 2010, the UN's International Labour Organization found that Canada and Ontario violated the rights of over 100,000 agricultural workers by banning farm unions. Sadly, the response was no response. Canada has an obligation to protect human rights, which include the labour rights of all workers.
As it currently stands, the temporary foreign worker program system is a very poor reflection of Canada's stated commitment to human rights. The net effect is the creation of an environment where human trafficking is a shameful reality in our country. In June of this year, Jose and Karin Callejas were convicted of human trafficking in London, Ontario, and there is a survivor present here today. We aided the workers who sought our help back in 2019 and fought for justice for five years. Such suffering underscores the need for workers' representation and for power balance mechanisms.
Thank you for your work and for this opportunity.