The "racist" policies behind Canada's migrant worker program

Plus, a murder investigation in Dominica and the Canadian Dental Care Plan [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on Canada’s migrant farmworker program, the Quebec entrepreneur and his partner killed in Dominica and the new Canadian Dental Care Plan. DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Nathan Denette star exclusive [Canada’s migrant farmworker program was founded on “racist” policies, a lawsuit argues]( When Canadian officials first considered requiring migrant farmworkers to work for a specific employer, they rejected the idea as tantamount to slavery, Brendan Kennedy reports. But in 1966, the immigration minister of the day ensured employer-specific work permits would be an essential component of such a program. What changed? Before 1966, Canada relied on white, European workers to fill agricultural shortages. However, when the country turned to Caribbean workers to fill the same jobs, “tied” employment became crucial to avoid what one official called “racial problems,” a proposed class-action suit against the federal government claims. [The lawsuit argues today’s migrant farmworkers continue to pay the price](. - More: The $500-million lawsuit, which represents migrant farmworkers who worked in Canada in the last 15 years, seeks restitution for the money paid by migrant farmworkers for Employment Insurance despite being ineligible for benefits if they lose their job. - Word from Ottawa: A spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said work is “underway” to implement a sector-specific — rather than employer-specific — work permit for temporary foreign workers. They did not say when such a permit would be available. Supplied/Dominica Police crime [The couple killed in Dominica were shot before their bodies were burned, police say]( Quebec entrepreneur Daniel Langlois and his partner of 25 years, Dominique Marchand, dreamed of building a revolutionary, fully sustainable hotel and resort after they moved to Dominica in 1997. The couple, who contributed to local charities and helped rebuild the community after Hurricane Maria, were the proprietors of eco-resort Coulibri Ridge. In an exclusive interview, the lead investigator in their deaths said they were shot and presumably dead before the SUV they were in was set on fire, Sheila Wang reports. [Here’s what else police revealed about their recent killings](. - More: Americans Jonathan Lehrer and Robert Snyder have been charged in the murders. They remain in custody in the Dominica State Prison in Roseau. Their lawyer declined to comment Monday. - Andrea Mandel-Campbell’s take: [This high profile murder is not a reflection of Dominica](. Canadian Press/Charles Rex Arbogast federal politics [What you need to know about Canada’s dental care program]( The federal government has unveiled the details of the Canadian Dental Care Plan — one of the biggest social programs to be implemented in Canadian history, according to the Liberals and New Democrats. The dental insurance plan will first become available to seniors over the next six months, followed by youth under 18 and disabled people. All other eligible Canadians can start to apply in 2025, Raisa Patel explains. [Here’s how to know if you qualify and how to apply](. - Context: The Canadian Dental Care Plan fulfils a central promise in the governing agreement struck between the minority Liberals and the NDP, which could see the New Democrats prop up Justin Trudeau’s government until 2025 in exchange for progress on shared priorities. - Watch for: Because some Canadians already receive care through provincial and territorial plans or employer-provided and private options, the program raises questions about what could happen to that coverage. Government officials said Monday they received no indication that provinces and territories would do away with their plans. WHAT ELSE [Ontario is pressuring Ottawa to ditch an environmental impact assessment requirement]( that is stalling plans for the controversial Highway 413. Kathleen Wynne and other ex-politicians are urging Canada to [play a “leadership role” in investigating sexual violence by Hamas](. [Mississauga man Kenneth Law now faces 14 second-degree murder charges]( for allegedly mailing products that people used to end their lives. [Two children have been found dead in a Scarborough apartment]( after their mom was injured in a “not accidental” balcony fall. For the first time since Doug Ford became premier, [Ontario will build renewable energy sources](. Unsecured creditors of Metroland have approved an [insolvency proposal by the Toronto Star's sister company](. A Toronto teacher who sexually assaulted a student has been sentenced to house arrest. [Here’s what we know](. A Toronto dad is remembering his “perfect” toddler, [who was allegedly killed by his babysitter](. [Here’s how Kate saved the royals’ Christmas]( doing what she does best. The King Street streetcar is broken. [This is how we can fix it](. One of 2023’s best meteor showers can be seen from Toronto this week. [Here’s how to watch](. [A kind gesture during the holidays holds lessons for us — and makes an impact on the community](. POV Toronto Star File Photo [Toronto’s pricey and ineffective new plan for snow clearing is a warning about privatizing city services.]( CLOSE-UP Steve Russell/The Star HARBORD BAKERY: Danka and Zen Stelmach are in their mid-70s and supposedly retired. [But the married couple will work eight 10-hour shifts to make close to 10,000 latkes from scratch for Hanukkah each year](. Thank you for reading. Sunday’s edition of First Up was accidentally deployed a second time Monday morning. Sorry about that. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_205303). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. 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