Victoria, B.C. — The Province of British Columbia proclaims December 18 as International Migrants Day in the whole province to recognize the contributions of migrants to the province as well as the many challenges they face in Canada. The Provincial Proclamation was witnessed and signed by the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of BC and the Honourable Niki Sharma, Attorney General of BC.
Part of the Declaration reads that “migrants across the world often have temporary, uncertain or no immigration status and may be exposed to precarious and vulnerable working and living conditions, with limited access to essential services,” and that “despite the challenges they face, migrants have proven to be a source of prosperity, innovation and sustainable development to their host countries as well as countries of origin and transit, while their knowledge, networks and skills contribute to the development of resilient communities….”
The Declaration continues that “International Migrants Day is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of migrants in British Columbia and to raise awareness of the millions of international migrants who continue to take perilous journeys each year.”
This Proclamation makes British Columbia the first and only province in Canada, to date, to declare December 18th as International Migrants Day.
Inspired by what Migrante B.C. started, the Filipino migrants’ organization Pilipinong Migrante sa Barrie – PMB (Filipino Migrants in Barrie) successfully requested an IMD proclamation from the Barrie City Council and the Mayor Alex Nutall. This makes the City of Barrie the first in Ontario to do so, to date. The PMB has successfully done this for the last three years.
The proclamations were requested by Migrante B.C. and the Pilipinong Migrante sa Barrie, both members of Migrante Canada to mark this global celebration of International Migrants Day started by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2000. December 18th is significant because it was on that same day in 1990, that the UN General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
The IMD Proclamation is for ALL migrants, regardless of their countries of origin, regardless of their status and work, most especially the low-skilled temporary foreign workers, the caregivers, the seasonal agricultural workers, precarious migrant workers, and international students. The Proclamation draws attention not only to the situation of precarious and vulnerable working and living conditions, their access to basic services and social entitlements, but also to the conditions that continue to drive workers from countries in the Global South such as Mexico, the Philippines, and Guatemala to migrate to and labour in the cities of the Global North.
Migrante Canada recognizes that the IMD proclamations in the city of Barrie and the province of B.C. are not only Declarations, but also Commitments to migrants and immigrants to welcoming, inclusive, and safe cities to people of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds, regardless of status.
Chris Sorio, Secretary General of Migrante Canada, said, “The IMD proclamations can help dispel the myths we hear in the media and from public figures that the migrants, immigrants, and refugees are to blame for the problems of Canada, such as the housing crisis, unemployment, the soaring prices of groceries and food, and the high cost of living. The anti-immigrant sentiment runs against the image of the Canadian people that we know – a people that welcomes newcomers.“
On the 24th anniversary of International Migrants Day, Migrante Canada is happy to share the news of these official Proclamations in B.C. and in Barrie, Ontario with everyone.
Happy International Migrants Day!