Don’t Call Me Resilient

FLASHBACK: Shattering the myth of Canada 'the good' -- How we treat migrant workers who put food on our tables

Episode Summary

Documentary filmmaker and OCAD University associate professor Min Sook Lee exposes how migrant workers have been treated in Canada, especially during COVID-19. In the conversation, Lee shatters any remaining myths about “Canada the Good.” Just how do Canadians treat the workers who put food on our tables? Lee has been documenting the voices of migrant farm workers in Canada for two decades. This episode originally aired in February 2021 and is part of our Summer Flashback series. This flashback was recommended by Scott White, the CEO and Editor in Chief of The Conversation Canada. Listen to the episode to hear why this episode resonated for him.

Episode Notes

Every year thousands of migrants come to work in Canada. From harvesting the food in our stores to caring for the elderly, these workers form a vital part of the economy. Yet despite being critical, they often face harsh conditions, isolation, abuse, injury and even death as a result of immigration policies designed to leave them powerless.

Documentary filmmaker and OCAD University professor Min Sook Lee has been documenting the voices of migrant farm workers in Canada for two decades. What she has to say about the treatment of these workers during COVID-19 shatters any remaining myths about “Canada the Good.” How do we treat the workers who put food on our tables?

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A full transcript of this episode can be found here: TRANSCRIPT