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baseimage (16) — Hundreds of migrant and agricultural workers gathered at the Roma Club for the Migrant Worker Community Program’s annual Health and Information Fair, an event organizers say has become a cornerstone of support for the region’s international workforce.
Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter

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Migrant Worker Community Program hosts annual Health and Information Fair with strong community turnout
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21:20 Apr 30, 2026 ONT-LJI-Migrant-workers-TR‑to‑PR Migrant workers call for clarity on stalled TR‑to‑PR plan By: Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter Source: Tilbury Times Reporter Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab had said the federal government’s new Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident (TR‑to‑PR) pathway would launch in April. But as the month ends, no program has been released, leaving migrant workers, international students and advocacy groups calling for clarity. On Thursday morning, the Migrant Rights Network, Canada’s largest migrant‑led coalition, sent the minister a list of minimum requirements for the promised program. The group warned that any new pathway must avoid the pitfalls of previous immigration pilots and must serve as a step toward permanent resident status for all migrants. The federal government has committed to accelerating the transition of up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residency in 2026 and 2027. But migrant‑rights advocates say a narrow or highly restricted program could create panic, confusion and exploitation among workers who have been waiting months for details. Past programs have shown how demand can overwhelm limited pathways. When the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots opened in 2025, more than 40,000 care workers attempted to apply for just 5,500 spots, crashing the website and leaving thousands without answers. Many remain in limbo today. At the same time, more than 2.3 million people on study and work permits have faced permit expiries in 2025 and 2026. Many have remained in Canada on maintained status, hoping the TR‑to‑PR pathway would offer a route to stability. The closure of the Agri‑Food Immigration Pilot, one of the few permanent residency options for agricultural workers, has further heightened pressure on the upcoming program. Despite the federal commitment, the government has not released full eligibility criteria, application rules or timelines through official channels. Instead, partial details have circulated through interviews, social‑media posts and consultant advertising, leaving many migrants to make major life decisions based on speculation. “Thousands are shut out and the most vulnerable are exploited when the government launches narrow, time‑limited programs with limited information,” said Syed Hussan of the Migrant Rights Network Secretariat. “A pathway for 33,000 people cannot solve a crisis affecting millions. Canada needs permanent resident status for all migrants.” In Chatham‑Kent and Essex counties, where agri‑food operations, seafood‑processing plants and greenhouse farms rely heavily on temporary foreign workers, many say the uncertainty is affecting their ability to plan for the future. A seafood‑processing worker in the region, who asked not to be named for fear of employer repercussions, said the lack of information has created anxiety. “We’ve been waiting every day for news,” he said. “Many of us have families back home depending on us. Without clear rules, we don’t know if we should renew permits, save money for applications, or prepare to leave.” A seasonal agricultural worker from the Leamington area, Carlos Hernández, said many long‑time workers feel they are being left behind. “I’ve been working so hard in the greenhouses,” Hernández said. “We help keep the food supply going, but we still don’t know if this program will include us. People are stressed because everything is rumours.” Another worker, María López, who came from Mexico and works at a large greenhouse operation outside Leamington, said the lack of official information has created fear among her co‑workers. “Some of us renewed our permits, others are waiting, and no one knows what is the right choice,” López said. “We just want clear rules. Many of us want to stay here permanently, but we don’t know if we will even qualify.” The Migrant Rights Network is calling for a TR‑to‑PR pathway that includes seasonal agricultural, food‑processing and seafood workers; undocumented people and those who have lost status; workers in all regions including major urban centres; workers in all TEER categories including low‑wage roles; and people currently excluded by language tests, education requirements, employer‑controlled permits or permit type. Advocates say these measures are necessary to ensure the program does not repeat past failures and to prevent further exploitation of workers who have few or no other pathways to permanent residency. As April closes without the promised launch, migrant‑rights groups say they will continue pressing Ottawa for transparency, fairness and a program that reflects the scale of the need.
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