60 Years of Struggle - Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

60 Years of Policy and Resistance

A living timeline tracing how temporary migration regimes expanded in Canada — and how migrants resisted, organized, and fought for justice.

Resistance Policy

1950s Early temporary labour recruitment

1955

Policy

West Indian Domestic Scheme launched

An early state labour-recruitment program brought Caribbean women to Canada as domestic workers under strict conditions.

An early state labour-recruitment program brought Caribbean women to Canada as domestic workers under strict conditions. It is a precursor to later gendered and racialized labour streams: Canada wanted the labour, but tightly controlled the workers.

1960s Formal restructuring and the rise of tied labour

1962

Policy

Explicit racial selection criteria removed

Canada formally moved away from openly race-based immigration rules, but unequal treatment did not end.

Canada formally moved away from openly race-based immigration rules. But this did not end unequal treatment; it shifted the system toward sorting people by class, skill, and usefulness to the economy.

1966

Policy

SAWP established with Jamaica

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program became a key starting point for modern employer-restricted migrant labour.

This is the key starting point for the modern system of employer-restricted migrant labour in Canada: workers could enter, but only to work for one employer and only for a limited period. It basically legislated what the 1962 changes were supposed to get rid of.

1967

Policy

Immigration Points System introduced

Canada created a more formal route for selected permanent immigrants even as temporary labour streams kept growing.

Canada created a more formal route for selected permanent immigrants even as temporary labour streams like SAWP continued to grow beside it. That split between “permanent residents” and “temporary workers” becomes a defining feature of the system.

1969

Policy

Canada acceded to the Refugee Convention and Protocol

Refugee protection was anchored in international law even as temporary labour programs expanded on a separate track.

This anchored refugee protection in international law, even as Canada continued expanding temporary labour programs on a separate track.

1970s Expansion, anti-deportation organizing, and refugee coalition building

1973

Policy

NIEAP created

The Non-Immigrant Employment Authorization Program marked the beginning of a broader temporary foreign worker system beyond SAWP.

This is the beginning of Canada’s broader temporary foreign worker system beyond SAWP. In effect, the logic first used in agriculture was extended into other sectors. Eventually this became the Temporary Foreign Workers Program.

1974

Policy

Mexico joined SAWP

SAWP expanded into a larger Canada–Caribbean–Mexico labour system.

SAWP became a larger Canada–Caribbean–Mexico labour system, deepening a program that was officially “seasonal” but increasingly permanent in its role in Canadian agriculture.

1977

Resistance

CADIW forms in Toronto

One of the earliest organized anti-deportation groups led by immigrant women publicly challenged racist, sexist, and exploitative policy.

The Committee Against the Deportation of Immigrant Women (CADIW) was one of the earliest organized anti-deportation groups led by immigrant women. It publicly argued that immigration policy was racist, sexist, and exploitative.

1978

Policy

Immigration Act, 1976 came into force

The new Act reorganized Canada’s immigration framework while students remained in the temporary system under “student authorizations.”

The new Act reorganized Canada’s immigration framework, and by this period international students were already part of the temporary migration system, though not yet under the modern “study permit” structure.

1978–79

Resistance

“Save the Seven Jamaican Mothers” campaign

CADIW, Black organizers, and anti-racist groups turned threatened deportations into a major public fight.

CADIW, Black community organizers, and anti-racist groups turned the threatened deportation of seven Jamaican mothers into a major public campaign under the slogan “good enough to work, good enough to stay.”

1978

Resistance

Canadian Council for Refugees is formed

The CCR became the main national refugee-rights coalition coordinating lobbying, education, and legal advocacy.

The Canadian Council for Refugees became the main national refugee-rights coalition, coordinating lobbying, public education, and legal advocacy across Canada.

1979

Resistance

INTERCEDE forms in Toronto

Domestic workers and allies built a long-term organizing vehicle to fight exploitation, deportations, and exclusion.

Domestic workers and allies built a long-term organizing vehicle to fight exploitation, challenge deportations, push for labour standards, and demand status rights.

1979–81

Resistance

Community pressure expands the refugee response

Mobilization and private sponsorship pressure helped push Ottawa toward a larger response to Southeast Asian displacement.

CCR’s own history credits community mobilization and private sponsorship pressure with pushing Ottawa toward a larger refugee response to Southeast Asian displacement.

1980s Farmworker organizing, care work expansion, and refugee rights

1980

Resistance

Canadian Farmworkers Union founded in BC

South Asian farmworkers and allies created Canada’s first farmworkers’ union to fight dangerous work and exclusion.

South Asian farmworkers and allies created Canada’s first farmworkers’ union to fight labour contracting, dangerous work, and exclusion from basic protections.

1981

Policy

Foreign Domestic Movement Program launched

Canada expanded temporary labour migration into domestic and care work.

1981

Resistance

Filipino domestic workers win a major reform

Organizing helped force a pathway to landed status after two years of work through the FDMP.

The Ad Hoc Committee of Filipino Domestic Workers for Landed Status, working with INTERCEDE and anti-Marcos activists, used petitions, rallies, and lobbying to help force a pathway to landed status after two years of work.

1983

Resistance

Farmworkers march in Vancouver with Cesar Chavez

A major public mobilization highlighted the exclusion of farm labour from basic health and safety protections.

This was one of the clearest public farmworker mobilizations of the period and highlighted the exclusion of farm labour from basic workplace protections.

1985

Policy

Singh v. Canada forced basic Charter fairness

The Supreme Court held that refugee claimants are entitled to an oral hearing where credibility is at issue.

The Supreme Court held that refugee claimants are entitled to an oral hearing where credibility is at issue. This was one of the most major expansion of refugee rights to date.

1985

Resistance

Singh becomes a landmark refugee-rights victory

Refugee claimants and their lawyers won a Supreme Court ruling that recognized Charter fairness rights.

Refugee claimants and their lawyers won a Supreme Court ruling that recognized Charter fairness rights in refugee determination.

1989

Policy

Immigration and Refugee Board created

Canada created an independent tribunal for refugee and immigration decisions.

Canada created an independent tribunal for refugee and immigration decisions. It institutionalized refugee adjudication, but also board members were politically appointed.