Thank you, Madam Chair.
Good morning, everyone.
My name is Laila Elcano. I am a former caregiver. I now work in health care as a personal support worker. I am a community leader and volunteer. I am the founder of Caregivers' Action Samaritan Movement, or CaSamaMo, an organization of caregivers helping caregivers.
It is an honour to be invited as a witness to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration for its study on Canada's immigration system. It is my hope that what I will share will assist you in this study.
As a caregiver myself, I know first-hand the emotional and psychological strains associated with being a caregiver. Though I am fortunate enough to have a loving and supportive family to work for, the fact that I was not with my own family back then was hard enough, but there was also the feeling of uncertainty. The feeling of not having control over your own life was, at times, too much to bear.
Caregivers or care workers are the backbone of Canada's economy. They perform critical work essential to the Canadian economy. Without them, parents of young children would not be able to work. The children of aging, sick or elderly parents would not be able to be in the workforce if not for caregivers. Families with special needs children and people with disabilities rely on the support provided by caregivers. Caregivers provide a sense of normalcy as they absorb the tasks and responsibilities the family can't provide to their loved ones. It is just fair that these caregivers be provided a simple, smooth and easy transition from workers to permanent residents, but the government is failing them.
Canada's immigration system has the family reunification program. It is ironic that the system that allows the family reunification program is the same system that is tearing families apart. How many caregivers are there who are not with their children?
One officer of CaSamaMo has five children—four boys and a daughter, who is the oldest child. Two years ago, her husband and the four boys came to Canada. Unfortunately, the only daughter was left in the Philippines. Why? She is over 22 years old. I believe, and I am sure you will all agree, that our children are our children at any age. They are our children for life. Why is it the daughter's fault to not be part of her family living in Canada? The sad part is, the boys here can't even post pictures of themselves enjoying dinner or lunch in a restaurant, or any picture, because it makes their sister back home feel sad, alone and abandoned.
Another one of our officers was able to bring her husband here, but not her two children. Why? They had turned 22. The mother, after sacrificing so many years of separation, will grow old here with her husband while both of their children are back home.
In both cases, they had to endure a lifetime of emotional and psychological pain. Is this what family reunification is? Lucky are those who have never experienced this.
With the current situation of the PR application, with all the delays, backlogs and lack of concrete or solid pathways, a lot more caregivers will suffer separation from their children, because their children will inevitably become 22 years old.
There is also a great concern with the educational credential assessment, ECA. I remember in 2021, there was a lot of confusion, anxiety, stress and depression in the caregivers community, particularly for those who were already here when this new requirement was announced. We even sent a petition to the then minister of immigration, Marco Mendicino with almost 300 signatures to reconsider this requirement. The TR to PR pathway opened and most of those who signed the petition were able to apply. Today, most of these caregivers are citizens now, and they are thriving, successful and contributing to Canadian society.
The biggest concern is the language proficiency test through IELTS and CELPIP. During the live-in caregiver program, LCP, ECA and language proficiency were never part of the requirements, but nonetheless, all the caregivers under the LCP are thriving and successful. Some are entrepreneurs or business owners. They are contributing to the Canadian economy and society.
At the last round table I attended with then minister of immigration, the honourable Marc Miller, alongside Minister Rechie Valdez and then minister Ya'ara Saks—