Three Amigos Petition: Antonio Laroya, Arnisito Gaviola and Ermie Zotomayor
- Target:
- TO THE MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP, IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURALISM, HONOURABLE JASON KENNEY
- Region:
- Canada
- Website:
- www.migrante.ca
When Antonio Laroya, Arnisito Gaviola and Ermie Zotomayor left their families in the Philippines to escape poverty and come to Canada in 2007 they never expected they would be jailed and face deportation three years later.
The three fathers came to Canada under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to work at a gas station in High Prairie, Alberta and were charged $3,000 each to land the minimum-wage job.
Like many other foreign workers, Antonio, Arnisito and Ermie came to this country to provide a better life and opportunity for their families.
After almost 18 months of working, Antonio, Arnisito and Ermie were laid-off from the gas station. They obtained another work permit and employment at a restaurant in Peace River, Alberta where they lived together in a mobile home. They asked their restaurant employer if they could be sponsored under Alberta’s Provincial Nominee Program but unfortunately the employer could not and the three fathers, once again, found themselves looking for another job.
After finding positions at a gas station in Thompson, Manitoba, the three packed their belongings and headed to the distant town with the promise of a new work permit and another minimum-wage job. Their new employer insisted they start working at once and promised that the work permits would soon follow. Unfortunately after waiting for three months, the employer still failed to obtain the work permits as promised. It was at this time, June 24, 2010 the trio were arrested by the Canadian Border Services Agency and jailed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for not having work permits. When they were released all their identification cards were confiscated including their Philippine passports.
Since their arrest the three have not been allowed to work and thus support their families in the Philippines. They are currently awaiting their Admissibility Hearing on February 4, 2011 in Winnipeg where they will find out if they are to be sent home to the Philippines or allowed to stay in Canada.
TO THE HONOURABLE JASON KENNEY, MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP, IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURALISM
WE THE UNDERSIGNED draw the attention of the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Honourable Jason Kenney to the following:
WHEREAS the undersigned have been made aware of the plight of the three temporary foreign workers who are facing admissibility hearings on February 4, 2011 before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada at the Winnipeg Law Courts after being charged with working at a gas station in Thompson, Manitoba without having valid work permits in violation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada;
WHEREAS ANTONIO LAROYA, ARNISITO GAVIOLA AND ERMIE ZOTOMAYOR are the sole breadwinners of their families in the Philippines and due to lack of employment opportunities they left their country to work in Canada as migrant workers after paying recruiters $3,000 dollars each to obtain minimum-wage jobs at a gas station in Alberta;
WHEREAS the unscrupulous practice of recruiters charging excessive fees from migrant workers even before they start working in Canada is condemned under federal and provincial regulations and guidelines on the recruitment of foreign workers as it imposes a heavy financial burden on the workers and the amount collected from each of the three fathers is equivalent to one year of wages for a typical worker in the Philippines;
WHEREAS their dire situation and the events leading to the three fathers working in a gas station in Thompson, Manitoba without a valid work permit was based on their belief in good faith on the invitation and promise of a work permit from their employer and should be viewed with compassion and understanding as they were victims of circumstances rather than deliberate violators of our immigration law;
THEREFORE your petitioners request that the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Honourable Jason Kenney to consider their situation and exercise his discretion to allow the three fathers to stay in Canada after their court hearing on compassionate or humanitarian grounds pursuant to S.114(2) of the Immigration Act and S. 2.1 of the Immigration Regulations.
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The Three Amigos Petition: Antonio Laroya, Arnisito Gaviola and Ermie Zotomayor petition to TO THE MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP, IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURALISM, HONOURABLE JASON KENNEY was written by Diwa Marcelino and is in the category Justice at GoPetition.