Thank you very much.
I want to pick up on something that our committee had talked about. I think, Ms. Minna, this is something maybe you could speak to as well. It happened when we were discussing the kinds of things we were going to talk about. When we got into human trafficking, we talked about a work plan for migrants.
Now, we know that in May 2006, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights questioned Canada about our record on migrant rights, finding the government wanting in this area. Number two, approximately 18,000 migrant farm workers from the Caribbean and Mexico arrive in Canada to work in our fields, orchards, and greenhouses every year. Women are estimated to make up 65% of the world's migrants.
When women are able to migrate legally and independently, it has been found trafficking decreases. ... A gender audit of migration policy might be a timely intervention in order to see whether and how Canadian immigration policy limits women's ability to migrate as independent workers in whatever field.
Now, on October 19, 2006, Mr. Richard Poulin said here:
With the growing demand, I suspect, for migrant labour in Canada, particularly with the economic booms out west, there will be more migrant workers seeking to access these jobs, so it is important that they be provided with the ability to access these jobs independently and safely.
On June 6, 2006, Ms. Florence Ievers, the coordinator of the Status of Women Canada, said:
The realities of poverty and women affect Canada at the international level, drawing criticism. In Geneva in early May, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights questioned Canada about our record on poverty, homelessness, Indigenous and migrant rights, health and education, finding the government wanting in all areas.
I don't know whether it's permissible to put a motion down, Madam Chair. I thought of a motion to support this suggestion. I know I also have other committee members in on this. Ms. Guergis also has some issues that she'd like to bring forward as well. I'm sure there are other members who would like to bring their things forward.
I'm just going to leave it at that for this time. The migrant workers and immigrant...it all goes hand in hand, talking about their lot in life when they come to Canada. There are many, many stories that need to be told, so we can address a lot of the underprivileged people who do come here and don't have a place to go or no accountability in terms of when they do get into a job situation.
So that's one of the suggestions. I would also defer to Ms. Guergis, who has some ideas as well.