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C4. Radical Labor
Migrant Farm Worker Safety During Niagara Elections
A pledge for Niagara municipal candidates
Road Safety for AllEveryone deserves the freedom to move safely through their community. Migrant farm workers are asking candidates to commit to practical action so that every worker can get to work, reach essential services and return home safely.
See where candidates stand Read the commitments Candidate? Sign the pledge Sign the petitionFreedom of mobility
Road safety is about the freedom to live a full life.Freedom of mobility means being able to travel between work, home, grocery stores, health care, legal services and community without risking your life.
For many migrant farm workers, there is little or no public transit. Workers may have no choice but to walk or cycle on dark rural roads without safe shoulders, bike lanes, crossings or lighting to get privacy and access basic needs.
Essential Work. Invisible to public planning.Migrant workers have helped sustain Niagara’s farms and food economy for sixty years. Their labour is visible everywhere. Their safety, transportation needs and voices have too often been missing from road design, transit planning and government decisions.
They have names
These deaths and injuries are part of a pattern.At least seven migrant farm workers have been killed or seriously injured on Niagara roads since 2019. Behind that number are workers, neighbours, friends and family members.
2026 Sinhue GarciaSinhue was killed while cycling home on Concession 6 near Line 4 in Niagara-on-the-Lake. He was 39 years old and leaves behind his wife and two daughters in Mexico.
2019 ZenaidaZenaida, a Mexican farm worker and mother, was killed in a hit-and-run in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
2022 Fermin Soto Sanchez and two co-workersFermin was killed and two of his co-workers were seriously injured when they were struck near St. Catharines.
2022 Ceto ReidCeto, a Jamaican farm worker, was seriously injured while cycling home from a laundromat.
2023 OmarOmar, a migrant farm worker, was injured in a hit-and-run on Lakeshore Road.
Sinhue Garcia was a neighbour, a co-worker, a friend and a father. He deserved to get home safely. So does every migrant worker who comes to Niagara to work.
The Road Safety for All Pledge
Candidates who sign commit to:Working with migrant farm workers, community members, municipal staff and regional partners to advance the following actions.
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Create and fund a migrant farm worker road safety plan
Support multi-year funding for improved lighting, protected shoulders or bike lanes, traffic calming, safer crossings and lower speeds on routes used by workers.
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Complete a worker-led road safety audit and map
Ensure migrant farm workers directly identify dangerous roads, routes and destinations and help set priorities for action.
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Put worker-identified routes into municipal and regional plans
Use transportation and master planning processes to prioritize routes identified by migrant workers.
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Assign responsibility and report publicly on progress
Identify a lead Niagara Region staff person and provide at least two public reports to council each year: one before and one after the height of the agricultural season from May to September.
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Ensure migrant worker housing is safe and dignified
Support proactive inspections through Niagara Region Public Health, including access to basic facilities, privacy, adequate space and protection from unsafe conditions.
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Call for a coroner’s inquest
Publicly support a coroner’s inquest into migrant farm worker road deaths and serious injuries in Niagara.
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Meet directly with migrant farm workers
Hold direct meetings with workers and release a public implementation plan during the first year of the new council.
For municipal candidates
Sign the pledgeAdd your name to publicly commit to the Road Safety for All Pledge and to working directly with migrant farm workers on implementation.
By signing, you commit to supporting all seven actions listed above.Your contact information will be used to confirm your response and communicate with you about the pledge. Only information you have agreed to make public should be published.
Candidate pledge formPlease complete the form below. We will follow up to confirm your response.
For everyone
Justice for Sinhue GarciaAdd your name to demand safer roads and real support for migrant workers in Niagara. Together, we can push municipal leaders to act so no one else is killed simply trying to get home.
Send a message now calling for safer roads, dignified housing and action with migrant workers at the table. Sign the petitionAdd your name and send your message to decision-makers.
The post Migrant Farm Worker Safety During Niagara Elections first appeared on Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
The post Migrant Farm Worker Safety During Niagara Elections appeared first on Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
Are you an Undocumented Care Worker in Toronto? Join Our Meeting.
Join a private and confidential meeting for undocumented care workers.
Request an invitation Meeting details
Saturday, August 8
3:00–5:00 p.m.
In person in Toronto
The location will be shared only with people who are invited and confirmed to attend.
Who is this meeting for?This meeting is for people who:
- Live in the City of Toronto
- Do not currently have valid immigration status in Canada
- Currently work or have previously worked in care
The criteria for this meeting were set by the City of Toronto, which is funding this project.
Space is limited. We will review responses and contact people who are invited.
People who are invited and attend the full two-hour meeting will receive:- A $50 gift card
- Food
- PRESTO fare
- Access to health care, housing, transit and other City services
- What support undocumented care workers need
- Problems at work, including low wages, unpaid wages, abuse or unfair treatment
- Immigration status, permits and access to permanent residency
- What needs to change in Toronto and across Canada
Your experiences will help us identify the changes, services and resources undocumented care workers need. We will also share information about services and support available in Toronto.
Need support or do not meet the criteria?Contact us for support , join us as a member or call 437-518-8662.
This is a private and confidential process. Your name, immigration status, employer information and other personal information will not be shared with the City of Toronto, immigration authorities or your employer. We will not contact your current or former employer. Request an invitationShare your information below. We will contact you if you are invited and send you the meeting location.
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The post Are you an Undocumented Care Worker in Toronto? Join Our Meeting. appeared first on Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
Petition: Justice for Sinhue Garcia. Safer roads and support for migrant workers now.
Sinhue Garcia, a migrant farmworker from Mexico, was killed while riding his bicycle in rural Niagara-on-the-Lake. He leaves behind a wife, two children, and many loved ones. He is not the first. At least six other migrant farmworkers have been killed or seriously injured on Niagara roads in recent years.
Send the email nowWe grieve with Sinhue’s family, friends, co-workers, and the migrant worker community. But his death is not an isolated tragedy.
Migrant farmworkers keep Niagara’s farms, greenhouses, wineries, restaurants, and food system running. Too many have no choice but to travel long rural roads by bike or on foot, often at night, without safe transportation, wide shoulders, bike lanes, proper lighting, or access to public transit.
This is a public safety crisis and reflects serious gaps in road infrastructure, housing, workplace protections, and political responsibility.
We are calling for action at every level of government.- Safer roads and transportation, including lighting, protected shoulders and bike lanes, lower speeds, and traffic calming.
- Worker-led road safety planning, with dangerous routes identified by workers, acted on, and publicly reported.
- Safe and dignified housing, with stronger standards and enforcement.
- More control over work schedules and protection from reprisals, so workers can make decisions about their own safety.
- A coroner’s inquest, compensation, and support for injured workers and families of workers who die in Canada.
- Permanent resident status so migrant workers can speak up, change jobs, and exercise their rights without fear.
Migrant workers are not disposable. They are our neighbours, co-workers, friends, and community members. They deserve to live with dignity.
Send an email now to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada, and election candidates.
This petition is co-hosted by Niagara Community Legal Clinic, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change and other local migrant worker organizations.
Send the emailAdd your name. You can edit the message before sending.
One message goes to all listed decision-makers. It takes less than two minutes. Every message increases public pressure. Migrant workers feed our communities, care for our families, and keep the economy running. Safe roads, safe work, support and permanent resident status cannot wait.The post Petition: Justice for Sinhue Garcia. Safer roads and support for migrant workers now. first appeared on Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
The post Petition: Justice for Sinhue Garcia. Safer roads and support for migrant workers now. appeared first on Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
Recent immigration changes: Free online information session
Rumours. False announcements. Lies. What’s going on with immigration changes in Canada these days?!
Join us on June 10 for a free online information session just for migrants like you. Let’s break through the noise together to get the facts, and learn how migrants are uniting to take action against unfair immigration rules to win permanent status for all.
What we’ll cover:
- Recent TR to PR announcement
- Changes to Express Entry
- What to do if your permit is expiring
- & more
Don’t miss out! Sign up now and invite a friend:
The post Recent immigration changes: Free online information session first appeared on Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
The post Recent immigration changes: Free online information session appeared first on Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
Help Jamaican Farm Workers Recover from Devastating Hurricane
It’s been over half a year since Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful hurricane to ever hit Jamaica, tore a path of destruction through the island. Many migrant farmworker families remain homeless and a number of communities still don’t have electricity restored, relying on expensive generators and battery-operated devices for power. The agricultural areas of the island got hit the hardest, impacting access to fresh food and driving up grocery prices.
What Your Donation Will Support100% of all contributions go directly to farmworker families’ immediate needs:
- Emergency food and clean water supplies
- Critical medications and medical supplies
- Temporary shelter and urgent roof repairs
- Flood recovery and debris removal
- Other immediate costs as needed
Migrant Workers Alliance for Change is providing direct support to Jamaican farm worker members impacted by the devastating storm. Many of these workers split their time between Canada and Jamaica as part of seasonal agricultural programs, and they’re facing this crisis both in Canada and now in Jamaica.
Your contribution goes directly to migrant workers and their families who need it most. No administrative fees, just direct relief.
How to HelpDonate Now
Suggested amounts:
- $100 – Provides emergency food supplies for one family
- $300 – Funds urgent roof repairs to prevent further damage
- $500 – Comprehensive support including food, clothing, medicine, and shelter repairs
- Other amount – Every dollar makes a difference
These are the same workers who help feed Canada. When disaster strikes their communities, they deserve our support. The combination of destroyed infrastructure and disrupted income means families are struggling to meet basic needs.
Share this campaign: Help us reach more supporters by sharing on social media
The post Help Jamaican Farm Workers Recover from Devastating Hurricane first appeared on Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
The post Help Jamaican Farm Workers Recover from Devastating Hurricane appeared first on Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
Petition: Status for All – Keep Migrants in Canada
The post Petition: Status for All – Keep Migrants in Canada first appeared on Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
The post Petition: Status for All – Keep Migrants in Canada appeared first on Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
Migrant Summer: Status Now!
This summer, migrant workers are facing extreme heat, unsafe housing, stolen wages, permit expiries, and growing racism — while governments cut access to permanent residency and give themselves more power over migrants’ lives.
Migrants are tired, stressed, and under attack. But we are not staying silent. From New Brunswick to Toronto to Niagara, we are coming together to demand permanent resident status and equal rights for all.
As the summer gets hotter, so will our struggle.
RSVP on this page See all events Upcoming events Sunday, June 14 Toronto Art BuildJoin us for an in-person Art Build at the MWAC office to create signs, banners, songs, and other materials together for the June 28 Toronto bus caravan to Niagara.
Time: 2:00pm to 5:00pm Location: MWAC office, 720 Spadina Ave. Food: Food will be provided RSVP: Use the Toronto form below RSVP for the Art Build Sunday, June 28 Toronto Bus Caravan to NiagaraMeet outside the MWAC office and travel together by bus to join migrant farmworkers and supporters in Niagara.
Meet: 11:30am for bus decoration Location: Outside MWAC offices, 720 Spadina Avenue Bus Registration Closed! Sunday, June 28 Niagara ActionJoin migrant farmworkers and supporters in Niagara for food, marching, and collective action.
Time: 3:00pm Location: Virgil / Niagara-on-the-Lake area Exact address: Sent after RSVP RSVP for Niagara Sunday, June 28 New Brunswick Bike CaravanMigrant workers and supporters in New Brunswick will take action together as part of Migrant Summer.
Time: 2:00pm Location: Parc Pascal-Poirier Park, 378 Main St, Shediac, NB E4P2B4 CA RSVP for New Brunswick RSVP on this pageChoose the event you want to attend. Each RSVP form is embedded below, so you do not need to leave this page.
Toronto Art Build + Bus Caravan June 14 art build at MWAC and June 28 Toronto bus caravan to Niagara. Niagara Action June 28 action with migrant farmworkers and supporters. New Brunswick Bike Caravan June 28 bike caravan in New Brunswick. RSVP: Toronto Art Build + Bus Caravan to NiagaraUse this form to RSVP for the Sunday, June 14 Art Build at the MWAC office from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, and for the June 28 bus caravan from Toronto to Niagara. Food will be provided at the Art Build.
RSVP: Niagara ActionUse this form if you are going directly to the Niagara action on June 28.
RSVP: New Brunswick Bike CaravanUse this form for the June 28 New Brunswick bike caravan.
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