Document Details

2004-12-21

Justicia for Migrant Workers

Justice For Migrant Workers

J4MW Letter to Chief Coroner

Dr. Barry Mclellan
Chief Coroner Mclellan,
26 Grenville, Street
Toronto, Ontario

December 21, 2004

As a collective, Justicia for Migrant Workers (J4MW) is strongly urging you in your capacity as Chief Coroner of Ontario to grant the request of both the Peart family as well as the community to a coroner's inquest into the death of migrant farm worker Ned Livingston Peart. Peart who died in August 2002, is one of 17 persons who died while on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program between the period of 1996-2002 (HRDC Canada). It is in the public interest to investigate and determine the causes and circumstances that lead to the death of Mr. Peart in order to prevent further such tragedies from happening again. A coroner's inquest would also provide much needed answers to the Peart family who have struggled with the death of Ned since his untimely passing two years ago.

Justicia for Migrant Workers believes that it is also in the public interest to investigate the conditions that migrant farm workers face during their work contracts here in Canada. While there have been numerous deaths of migrant farm workers in Ontario, there has never been a Coroner's Inquest into the death of a migrant farm worker since the inception of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program in 1966.

Our organization believes that justice no longer can be delayed for the Peart family. Action must be taken to restore faith that Mr. Peart's death was not in vain and that steps will betaken to rectify the conditions that lead to his death. This is essential so that measures are taken to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening to migrant farm workers in particular but to farm workers in general in this province. Justicia for Migrant Workers is demanding from your office that steps be taken to ensure that a coroner's inquest is called immediately to address this critical issue.

Sincerely Yours

Justicia for Migrant Workers

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  J4MW Letter to Chief Coroner (http://www.justicia4migrantworkers.org/press_new.htm)
  

Agriculture and horticulture workers

Documented cases of abuse

Policymakers and Public awareness

Labour standards, Health and safety at work, Legal aid, Right to equality (national origin), and Right to equality (social status)

Ontario

English