Many migrant farm workers in Manitoba are working directly in the path of the floodwaters in Manitoba, and have had their livelihoods harmed by the flood as much as any other resident of the area. Since the money these workers make goes home to their economically-depressed countries of origin to help support their families, the flood probably has a greater negative impact on these workers than on the average Canadian.

The Winnipeg Free Press recently ran an article on the impact of the flood on migrant workers in the province; Jennifer deGroot, a member of the Migrant Worker Solidarity Network, had her letter to the editor published as Letter of the Day in the Winnipeg Free Press about the challenges these workers face in Canada and the need for them to be covered by any provincial flood compensation scheme. You can find the text of the letter below. Read the rest of this entry »