A British Columbia organization dedicated to assisting migrant workers has reported ongoing communication with employees from Toor Vineyards, a winery located in the Okanagan Valley. This winery has recently received a permanent ban on hiring temporary foreign workers along with a fine of $118,000 due to violations of federal regulations in the program.
According to a ruling by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on December 16, Toor Vineyards was penalized for failing to adequately protect its workers from various forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, psychological, or financial harm, as well as retaliation. The IRCC stated that the vineyard also neglected to provide requested documentation and did not meet the promised pay and working conditions for the foreign laborers.
Raul Gatica, the founder of the Dignidad Migrante Society, mentioned that a minimum of five or six workers from Toor Vineyards had approached his organization for assistance over recent years. Alarmingly, at least one worker reached out seeking guidance after experiencing sexual abuse. Gatica emphasized the importance of reporting such incidents to law enforcement, and confirmed that the police have been informed of the allegations. However, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) did not provide any comments regarding the ongoing investigation.
Among the numerous employers who have faced penalties for violations related to the foreign-worker program, Toor Vineyards stands out as one of only two employers to receive a permanent hiring ban. The vineyard shares its address with the acclaimed Desert Hills Estate Winery, whose president, Randhir Toor, had stepped down approximately one year prior. In a separate instance in 2023, Desert Hills was fined $16,000 for violating foreign worker regulations and, in 2022, Toor Vineyards faced seven charges for counseling or attempting to counsel misrepresentation, culminating in a conviction that remains unpaid according to government records.
While Gatica expressed satisfaction with the recent fine and ban, he remains skeptical about whether any penalties would be duly paid. Efforts to contact Desert Hills Estate Winery for a comment were unsuccessful, and no contact details for Toor Vineyards could be located. Gatica highlighted the vulnerability of migrant farm workers, often subject to low wages and inadequate housing, in which multiple workers may reside under one roof. His motivation for establishing the Dignidad Migrante Society stemmed from his own experiences after moving to Canada from Mexico in 2005, where he witnessed severe working conditions first-hand.
Syed Hussan, executive director of the Migrant Workers Alliance, outlined the precarious positions of migrant workers tethered to employers for their work permits. He noted that, as employers typically control various essential aspects such as housing and employment, these workers often lack the power to voice complaints against their employers. The temporary foreign worker program is designed to fill roles when qualified Canadian workers are unavailable, but it has faced close scrutiny in recent years. In September 2023, the federal government reinstated more stringent pre-pandemic regulations that limit businesses' abilities to recruit low-wage foreign workers.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by migrant workers in British Columbia and points to a critical need for stronger protections and enforcement mechanisms within the temporary foreign worker program.
