Everyone deserves the freedom to move safely through their community.
Since 2019, at least seven migrant farmworkers have been killed or seriously injured on Niagara roads, including Sinhue Garcia, who was killed while cycling home in June 2026.
These are not isolated incidents. Migrant farmworkers grow the food we eat, but unsafe roads, employer-controlled housing, unfair working conditions and immigration laws put their safety and lives at risk.
Migrant workers are demanding action from Niagara municipalities, the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada.
Freedom of mobility
Safety means being able to live a full life.
Migrant farmworkers have sustained Niagara’s farms and food economy for sixty years. But they work long, unpredictable hours for low wages, often without basic labour protections. Most are tied to one employer through their work permits. Without permanent immigration status, speaking up can mean risking their jobs, housing and ability to stay in Canada.
Many workers live in employer-controlled housing far from town, with little privacy and few transportation options. They need to buy groceries, send money home, see a doctor, visit friends and spend time away from the farm. Without reliable public transit, they often have no choice but to walk or cycle.
Long workdays mean much of this travel happens after dark, on rural roads with fast-moving traffic, poor lighting and no safe shoulders or crossings. An ordinary trip can end in serious injury or death.
Migrant farmworkers know what needs to change. Governments must listen and act.
They have names
These deaths and injuries are part of a pattern.
At least seven migrant farmworkers have been killed or seriously injured on Niagara roads since 2019. Behind that number are workers, neighbours, friends and family members.
Sinhue Garcia
Sinhue 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.
Zenaida
Zenaida, a Mexican farmworker and mother, was killed in a hit-and-run in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Fermin Soto Sanchez and two co-workers
Fermin was killed and two of his co-workers were seriously injured when they were struck near St. Catharines.
Ceto Reid
Ceto, a Jamaican farmworker, was seriously injured while cycling home from a laundromat.
Omar
Omar, a migrant farmworker, 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.
Take action: Niagara, Ontario and Canada
Justice for Sinhue Garcia. Safety and dignity for every migrant worker.
Sinhue was killed cycling home. His death must lead to real change.
Add your name to demand safer roads and transportation, decent housing, better protection at work, support for injured workers and their families, and permanent resident status.
Migrant workers have identified the problems and the solutions. Governments must act.
Sign the petition
Add your name and send your message to decision-makers.
Niagara municipal elections
More than half of candidates have signed. Has yours?
Across Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines and Lincoln, more than half of the 63 municipal candidates have signed a seven-point pledge developed around migrant farmworkers’ demands.
Check where your candidates stand. If they haven’t signed, ask them to stand with migrant workers.
Read the seven commitments ↓Migrant Worker Safety Pledge
Niagara 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.
Beyond Niagara
Ontario and Canada must act too.
Municipal commitments matter. Provincial and federal governments must also make the changes migrant workers need to live and work safely.
Government of Ontario
Hold a coroner’s inquest into migrant farmworker road deaths and serious injuries, strengthen and enforce housing standards, and ensure farmworkers are fully included in provincial labour laws.
Government of Canada
Ensure permanent immigration status for all migrant workers, so they have the freedom to make decisions about their employment, housing and lives.
For municipal candidates
Sign the pledge
Candidates in Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines and Lincoln: make a public commitment to work directly with migrant farmworkers on these seven actions.
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 form
Please complete the form below. We will follow up to confirm your response.