Live-In Caregivers Reveal Confidential Government Plans, Call for Permanent Status

Media briefings in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa on October 9th

TORONTO, VANCOUVER, OTTAWA, Oct. 7, 2014 /CNW/ - Live-In Caregivers groups in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa will reveal details of secretive Conservative government plans to overhaul the Live-In Caregiver program and end the government's obligation to ensure permanent residency for Caregivers for the first time since 1900. Current and former caregivers, with support of of childcare coalitions, women's rights groups and others will be speaking out and proposing an alternative solution at media briefings across the country on October 9, 2014.

OTTAWA - October 9, 2014, 5pm EST
Divisoria Market, 1743 Carling Ave

TORONTO - October 9, 2014, 11am EST
720 Spadina Avenue, Suite 223 (Bloor & Spadina)

VANCOUVER - October 9, 2014, 1pm PST
BCTF office, Prior Room, 2nd floor, 100 - 550 West 6th Avenue

Context

Live-In Caregivers are immigrant women mostly from the Philippines and the Caribbean but also from other countries that come to Canada to take care of young children, people with disabilities and the sick and the elderly. We work in people's homes providing vital care and nurturing.

For almost two centuries, immigrant women have been coming to Canada as caregivers, providing care to build health and strong communities. But access to permanent residency has been declining. Today, Caregivers must live in employers homes on a precarious basis for 24 months before being able to apply for permanent residency. During this time, caregivers often face stolen wages, bad health, long hours, separation from their families and employer abuse. Accessing justice means putting our ability to stay in Canada at risk, and is therefore simply not an option.

Today, 1 in 7 Canadian resident is aged 65 or over. By 2036, nearly 1 in 4 will be seniors. Over five million children in the country are under 14 years of age. The current economic climate means that all members of the household need to hold jobs. This makes taking care of young children, and aging parents and relatives extremely difficult. There is a real need for a national care strategy that includes universal childcare, real pensions, decent nursing homes and caregivers coming to the country as immigrants with permanent residency. We deserve permanent residency on landing. You deserve caregivers that have stable, decent lives.

SOURCE
www.caregiversactioncentre.org
www.migrante.ca

SOURCE: Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

Aimee Beboso, Chair, Philippine Migrants Society of Canada - Migrante, [phone]
Pura Velasco, Spokesperson, Caregivers Action Centre, [phone]
Jane Ordinario, Spokesperson, Migrante BC, [phone]