RIP Alberto García - local Ontario food
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Monday, 17 March 2008 |
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Alberto García died in February in his rural village of San Matías Cuijingo, Juchitepec, Mexico. He was 39, and is survived by his wife Mirabel and three children. He had fallen ill in May 2006 while working in a Simcoe, Ont., greenhouse under the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (CSAWP).
Alberto and Maribel returned to Mexico in December, 2006, when his visa
and right to medical coverage in Canada expired. They were reunited with
their three young children who had stayed in Maribel's mother's care
during their absence.
In Mexico he found it difficult to afford costly cancer treatments and
eventually his condition deteriorated again. (Justicia for migrant workers)
What does it mean when a food system discards its workers when they get sick?
The Canadian soft fruit industry is dependent on the importation of migrant workers to do the dirty, dangerous and low paying jobs of planting, pruning, picking and packing the delicious local fruit that we enjoy in southern Ontario. This is not the time to talk of the details of the contract that workers sign when they come to Canada but perhaps it points to the unspoken contract that we have with these essential, but disposable, tools. You are welcome to come and work in Canada - as long as you leave, when we say, no matter what.
Donations to help Alberto's family in this difficult time can be made
to account number 6258151-0083 at any branch of TD-Canada Trust. The
account is in the names of Fanny Belcoski and Herman Plas, both of whom
have been consistent supporters of Alberto and his family throughout
this tragedy. They will ensure that his family receives any donations
as soon as possible.
More Questions about Migrant Workers
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