International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 21, 2025
The following is from the Migrant Rights Network:
| On this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, take a moment to watch a new video and confront the truth: migrants are being falsely blamed for the housing crisis, rising costs, and overburdened healthcare. It’s a lie. Politicians and the corporate media are scapegoating migrants to deflect blame from the real culprits: corporate landlords, greedy CEOs, and disastrous policies that harm working people.This powerful new video by The Breach—“Canada’s elite are scapegoating migrants—and here’s why they’re wrong”—shatters three myths being used to divide and distract working people. |
| The video exposes the lies behind three dangerous myths: Myth #1: Migrants are a drain on our economy and public services Fact: Migrants pay taxes and contribute immensely to the economy, yet they are shut out of many of the services they fund. Many migrants are excluded from healthcare, child benefits, and unemployment support. Without migrants, Canada’s social services would collapse. “Undocumented migrants are never able to get full health care because it’s not available. When I was an international student, you still have to pay the medical bills, so it’s not like someone is getting free medical access or public services.” — Dev, undocumented migrant worker, Toronto. Myth #2: Migrants are causing the housing crisis Fact: Migrants are often forced to live in overcrowded, substandard housing because they can’t afford anything else or because its required by immigration law. They aren’t the ones driving up housing prices—speculators, corporate landlords, and right-wing policies removing rent control are. Migrants, like everyone else, are suffering in a broken housing system. “In one room, husband, wife, and children. The other room in the same apartment is husband, wife and two children. So, they have no choice.” — Gaurav Sharma, Former Dollarama employee, Montreal. Myth #3: Migrants are stealing good jobs Fact: Migrants are working some of the hardest, most essential jobs—cleaning, caregiving, agriculture, food delivery, and warehouse work—often in unsafe and underpaid conditions. They are exploited by employers can abuse them because immigration and labour laws allow it. The problem is not migrants; it’s a system that denies them rights and protections. “You have to be able to cook. You’re supposed to be able to multitask. You have to have the initiative to do stuff that’s not in the instructions.” — Emelyn, migrant care worker, Toronto. Take action now! Watch the video and share it far and wide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRA3QLPw1jc Organize a screening in your community or workplace. We’ll provide a discussion guide—sign up here: https://migrantrights.ca/actionslist/2025video/Migrants and non-migrants are being crushed by the same system. The more people see the truth, the harder it will be for the elites to divide us with lies and racism. Together, we can fight back. In solidarity, Migrant Rights Network |
