Jamaican migrant worker dies on Canadian farm, new letter exposes horrible living conditions

[@Tramaine0000]

Thank you Brandon. This has been going on for to long and mainstream Canadian media DOESNT talk about it.

[@Rasheedaxo]

Agreed

[@casbrown4567]

Some leave there decent place to work just to continue to pay there bills

[@lolafiiona7014]

They make it sound like Canadians wouldnt do the work and they are not available. Canadians are available, these companies are not willing to pay regular wages or benefits. It's a disgrace

[@solkinar]

Absolutely agree and no Canadian would live and work under the mentioned conditions.

[@ladyd900]

excellent point and very true

[@shawnogiseanjohn9582]

Exactly

[@becomingss9379]

I was waiting for this news story! Thank you for following up. Continue to uncover the news the mainstream media ignores.

[@shawnogiseanjohn9582]

I have been waiting since the 1970’s for this story to get allot of public attention.

[@nicolebusari5493]

Outrageous, the government clearly is aware of this and they don't care. This is one of the reasons why we started a black initiative in Pamoja Community Investment Fund Development Cooperative, and purchased 100 acres of farmland. My goal is that we will hire our own people to work on our farm where they will be treated with respect and dignity.

[@mollyweir9350]

How can I contribute? Is there a phone # to call? I am the daughter of a former migrant worker who know too well the pschological, social & emotional traumas that happen to farm workers & their loved ones.

[@nicolebusari5493]

@@mollyweir9350 and I'm so so sorry about what happened to your dad. It sincerely breaks my heart. I remember how my dad was treated by some people as a black man in construction back in the 80s, it was really bad for them too, but not nearly as horrible as our migrant workers. We must put a stop to this, and in my opinion the best way is having our OWN and being the difference we want to see

[@shawnogiseanjohn9582]

That is what is was like around here before Pierre Elliot Trudeau was the PM in the 1970’s.

[@mollyweir9350]

@@nicolebusari5493 Thank you. I agree. What the regular Canadians don't understand is that it is more than the migrants that bear the trauma , the entire family does especially the children. The impact of which continues even into adulthood. The feel of ababdonment & in some cases the parent, the father do not know does not knoe how to parent & sometimes release built up traumas from their employers towards the child & the cycle of pschological, mental , emotional & physical abuse umtil the family / farmer decides to get help. In some cases, it is too late.

[@catregime]

Brandon THANK YOU for centring this story. Ppl will argue that they have been trying to out these farms from time but this is the most attention the situation has gotten. They need to be held accountable by any means.

[@Himmmeyqfjcs]

The Jamaican government is planning on doing nothing

[@anyikamark879]

Amazing segment!! 🔥🔥 let’s keep this conversation going!!!! #RIP ❤️❤️ to all those who have lost their lives in Canadian farms

[@wendysvintagefinds]

The workers don’t even make minimum wage. A few years ago I was picking berries at a local farm and I was chatting with a farm worker from Barbados. He told me they made $10.75 a hour. No days off. He said the conditions were better than other farms he has worked at. He was a electrician and he was doing this to pay for his daughters university

[@leetaylorwilliams8480]

Thank you for bringing this issue publicly. It is so sad to know what these hard working individuals are enduring. Their stories need to be heard without them facing backlash. They need proper representation. Please follow up on this as someone need to be held responsible for this man's death.

[@kadykayeanna1624]

I visited a friend at Simcoe and the living conditions brought me to tears. I couldn’t believe they had human living in such condition. Everything mentioned in this video is the truth. Praying for change. Most of the worker have house business n family back home there not use to such conditions

[@oliwoodnorth2371]

Change starts with the individual so Save your tears.

[@crystalwu7400]

@@oliwoodnorth2371thats like telling a homeless person to “just get a house”

[@barbarapinnock1140]

​@oliwoodnorth2371 this is an uneducated comment, reason is they are trying to make a better life for themselves and family. What would you rather they do? Can you employ them?

[@CommonSenseSisters]

We would never understand why employers of migrant workers treat them (employees) so cruel and unlivable conditions 😭😭😭😭 Hope the employers get audited and prosecuted.

[@keyshaA]

Keep your foot on their necks. The government need to address this. It's so sad the conditions they have to live and work under. My God 😪

[@bevlamorandiere3761]

Shame, shame, shame, on the farmer’s.

[@MiaH79]

Man Brandon you are doing some great stories! Keep up the great work!

[@carolbryan7494]

Heartbreaking!!! Justice is needed NOW for Jamaican and ALL Migrant Farmer workers!!! Canadian politicians, please Help protect our migrant workers!!!

[@legra75]

I don't think we can underestimate the importance of Brandon’s platform & media initiative. We MUST continue to support him as much as we can to build his reach throughout Canada and The World. Any owner or Government aware of this inhumane practice should feel the weight of our disappointment and disgust. This is UNACCEPTABLE. Brandon, who do we need to address with regards to this matter?

[@EverybodyLuvsFriday]

This hits hard. I know too many people who are suffering from PTSD from their time on the program. What frustrates me more is that I feel compelled to kibba for fear.of the target that might be on my back for speaking up about issues like these that I've seen the effects of firsthand.

[@NeishaNineStarz]

Thank you for highlighting that this continues to happen on Canadian soil beyond heartbreaking and unacceptable.

[@AwoogaGamer]

I worked in a kitchen this past year making food for the migrant workers who were quarantined at a hotel. The distain that our kitchen manager had for these people was horrifying. She was cutting corners with dietary restrictions and said that these people didn't deserve the consideration. We had entire orders of pork breakfast sandwiches with the meat simply removed before being served to large groups of people who do not eat pork. They had no way of knowing their food was contaminated and the kitchen was so toxic and hostile I ended up getting fired for trying to speak up about these issues, among many others. You would think that Canadians would have a little more respect and care for the people who are providing the food we ALL eat. Thank you for shedding light on this exploitation, Canadians need to stop pretending we are above such atrocities.

[@shawnogiseanjohn9582]

What restaurant is this.

[@varsha4469]

Thank you for your bravery. You did the right thing, even though it cost you personally but a Supreme Goodness will reward you. Please keep speaking out

[@EverybodyLuvsFriday]

Without saying more than I sadly feel safe we to, conditions such as these have been under the radar of conversation for FAR too long. Thank you for this dialogue provoking work.

[@Cassief1]

Hello Brandon thank you for covering this I am sharing and posting

[@DeeDee-oq5bg]

Thank you Brandon for this video and insight. I had no idea until you released your story.

[@Doveization]

Thank you Brandon for sharing this. This is been going on for decades. We have this to change the laws that enable workers to have the same health and safety and access to Canadian employment and laws in order to change the systemic racism and slavery.

[@danielleclarke2804]

Thank you so much for covering this Brandon. This is so important. The Canadian government is 100% responsible and needs to be held account able

[@foreverfearon]

Hi Brandon, what those men and women faced being on Canadian farm is inhumane. My husband worked on several farms here since 2000 he stopped in June 2018, we reside here now. If he sit and tell you some things that he faced alongside the other workers you would believe you watching a movie, couple years ago he was given the task to spray insecticides on vegetables without any PPE, the chemicals when in his eyes but it affected one more until today, he has blurred vision. He was taken to the hospital but was coached on what to say while they stayed in the room to make sure he did not say otherwise...He was never compensated even when he had to stayed at the bunkhouse for couple days. If they complain they were told "to hit the blue sky" and their names would be send to the Ministry of Labor in Jamaica and never to return to that farm, hence he been on different farms. They are charged for bus rides to take them shopping whether they go or not, not to mention about the overcrowding in the bunkhouse that is infested with bedbugs... I also need the government to reimburse all the monies they took from their salaries for for EI and after they leave the country many if not all don't have a job in their home country, and no income, so why did they took those monies from them in the first place???? JUSTICE FOR FARM WORKERS PAST AND PRESENT 🙏

[@ChenaiDavid]

THANK YOU BRANDON, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR FAR TOO LONG WITH LITTLE TO NO MEDIA COVERAGE!

[@ruckusrevolution9475]

When I was in McGill student I was hired to work on a farm in Niagara region for the summer. I ran away after a week, the treatment was exactly as described here.

[@beverleyreid563]

shameful.

[@coreenh237]

Thank You Brandon, may justice prevail for these essential workers

[@BeingMimi]

They should join the class action lawsuit like what is already happening with black civil servants....this really pisses me off

[@bluehibiscus502]

What’s going on with Black civil servants?

[@Somethingaboutlexi]

Also a heads up to people that shop at Sobey‘s their company works/supports with the farm that the farm worker passed away at

[@OUTNABOUTwithYoursTrulyLIZZOC]

OMG! Thank you so much for sharing this!!! Horrible treatment for these workers!

[@Ally_416_Chic]

Thank you for bringing light to this issue

[@craigg7891]

Thank you Brandon. I spoke to my cousin's liaison officer about the conditions and work load. And they basically gave my cousin hell for bring this to my attention.

[@raydouglas3549]

Den tell we a who a the slave liaison officer. Can't be keeping this stuff quiet. What are the credentials these liaison officers have? Who advocates to ensure OHS guidelines and standards are upheld? Are they experts and display good understanding of labour laws and OHS laws? Are they trained on workplace safety and ensure basic PPE?

[@ingridbarrett21]

This slavery system has been going on for a very long time. All of us from the Caribbean knows what it meant when people in the Caribbean would leave for "farm work". Workers have died not getting proper medical care. Since 2022 what has been the requirement for these workers to enter Canada?

[@kayannharrison1267]

Yea it's crazy I visited a farm in Simcoe ont...it was so nasty I use the bushes to pee... and like 12 guys living in a small house the government needs to do better

[@rasmuhamednasr4621]

Thank you,that is an important vedio,thanks,again.

[@TanTan-pn9cu]

I’m confused as to why there are no inspections done on these farms. Canada will inspect everything under the sun but why not this? People that are helping to provide food to us should be healthy

[@shawnogiseanjohn9582]

Exactly

[@jacqulinejohnson6967]

The first time I visited a farm I cried. It was hard to see how these men are living. Just horrible and yes it was in Simcoe.

[@sashagolding2292]

Why they stayed in the situation

[@joka5345]

Brandon go to those farms and investigate those companies.

[@Blisscent]

He needs a team and witnesses to put pressure on these people. Make it so they can’t try to bury it. I completely agree

[@nadiar.7788]

W5.

[@jaibreeze.]

Extremely disappointing as a human race💔

[@generalkingvision6131]

This is extremely disgusting my father did this farm work thing some years ago he left cause it wasn’t the best situation for him,I always tell people farm work is slavery sad to say but it is 😒😓

[@fortyseven7789]

Sadly these are the people that help us get food to our stores. Something needs to change.

[@Rasheedaxo]

@@fortyseven7789 I agree and unfortunately alot of us are complaining about the food prices so if these workers were actually paid fairly , then we also pay the price. It's all so sad and frustrating. Definitely change needs to come !

[@shawnogiseanjohn9582]

Farm work is not slavery, those farm owners are slavers , there is a big difference, because almost all food comes from other peoples farms if you do not farm your own food. The problem is not enough people pick and collect their food from the farms like used to be done before Pierre Elliot Trudeau was the PM of Canada.

[@bevdoman]

These people risponsible for the workers should be investigated and charged. Proper inspection should be done at these places and deemed livable before any of the farmers get into the country.

[@cooperedith958]

Exactly.

[@maijanay3350]

Slavery is alive on these farms. Please visit.

[@chizzybashmentmedia]

This is sad. I have family members who have worked in these conditions. Thanks for covering this story.

[@aglopryce552]

Would love to see a follow-up to this story

[@Somethingaboutlexi]

This is so sad that this is happening in Canada! I had no idea. Definitely something needs to be done and we need to all take action and boycott these grocery stores that are working with these farms until something is done.

[@jahrassicsound312]

I used to live in Bradford, which is in Simcoe County. I would see the farm workers all the time in our local Wal-Mart store. They would be sitting at the front close to the McDonald's so that they could get the free Wi-Fi. I'm sure they just wanted to stay in touch with their family members back home. It's a shame they're are being treated so poorly in a first world country like Canada!!! It's a real shame!!!

[@SHEASGOTSOUL]

Very important story ❤️🇯🇲🌞

[@ediddysmith2500]

This is shameful, where is the law .

[@R3n33loves]

I know someone who had to escape and run away off the farm !! This is so sad

[@chvmpionmgmtmedia6231]

Canada racism doesn’t get talked about enough …

[@dadao8564]

Canadians are not racist..we are not like the Americans😏😏😏😎😎

[@canthandleanopinion2443]

​@@dadao8564 Arrogant Canadians like you are so annoying. Canadians aren't any better they just pretend to be. By the way...your comment is prejudiced itself so you prove the point perfectly. Glad you know all 500 million americans so you can generalize like that. Good luck.

[@Blisscent]

This is horrific! If they’re coming to Canada to work they should be entitled to the same pay and benefits that the people they’re replacing would get. I can’t believe this is happening and I had no idea until now. Why isn’t this a bigger issue? Who is fighting for these people?

[@The_rasta_rant]

If the companies are mandated to pay them as if they were Canadians there would be no incentives for companies to hire them over a Canadian.

[@Blisscent]

@@The_rasta_rant this is so fucked up

[@cooperedith958]

There shouldn't be though. The supposed claim is that Canadians won't do that work. Not that the farms aren't willing to pay even minimum wage. They're simply supposed to be filling a need that could benefit both the employer and the workers.. Instead they are just selfish and greedy and preying on individuals from other countries then further abusing them on top of it. Disgusting.

[@shawnogiseanjohn9582]

Exactly

[@shawnogiseanjohn9582]

Actually if Canadian Citizens do not want to do the work the Migrant farms should get more than our minimum wage for adults.

[@luciacrammer]

So sad 😞. Thanks for covering this story 🙏🏾

[@tamorymccalla2134]

MAKE THIS GO VIRAL! because they are trying to keep it hush hush.

[@diduknowfacts101]

Thanks Brandon for doing this, im very appreciative.

[@kstarrandoms]

Thank You Brandon for covering news we could use, we wouldn’t know what’s going on around us because the mainstream media doesn’t cover this kind of stories for who knows what reason. So we Thank You and your team for all that you guys do keep up the great work 👍

[@IamKarryanne]

Speak out 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾this is unacceptable

[@jordaniverson5961]

Thanks BG for bringing this to our attention

[@brendareid9332]

Thank you so much Brandon for highlighting this form of modern day slavery. Keep doing what you are doing. The good Lord bless and keep you. My condolence goes out to this brother family. May his soul RIP.

[@violat4327]

Sooo Darn sad 😔

[@stargirl623]

So sick and sad. Great news reporting. Appreciate

[@benoitblanchette9460]

Thank you for making this public Lawsuits should be filed and the employer pay the costs

[@DancingSoldiersOfRa]

Important story that needs more eyes and ears

[@timelessphotoshoot5347]

Thank you for this story I have heard this kind of story before keep up the good work

[@kayk101]

Amazing coverage!

[@shawnogiseanjohn9582]

Here is what I know. In the 1970’s Pierre Elite Trudeau exiled many American Indians to the Caribbean. Some would say it was ANNO DOMINI 1886 in what we call 1985 in USA and Canada. Time travel is fake, yet look at USA history. The first person to graduate from West Point was William Gates. Now get this, Jeffery Epstine looks like Thomas Jefferson. So is USA and Modern Canada’s history different from what West Indian, Mayans and the Dominion of Canada would say. Basically in the last 70 years Afro-Americans were kicked off of our farms, our land stolen by Europeans and both White and Black supremest are being used by NAZI elitist to cancel our American Indian culture.

[@johnnyjohnson7642]

As a student in NYS in1975-6 friends world college long island NY,I did a study on migrant farm workers seasonal on farms in Suffolk county, living conditions were unlivable back then, mostly caricom& Mexican, southern African American workers

[@mariannehata279]

This is disturbing!! This needs to change. I am shocked.

[@donaldramsamugh1723]

Wow! Hey buddy, I'm glad we found you, since you've left City TV live, ok I've subscribed and looking forward to fallow you now...

[@kimberleyhanlon1492]

This is shameful and shouldn’t be happening in this country nor any country but we’re better than this Shameful living conditions Shameful everything And why are we finding out about this and the numbers these are people Investigations should be happening

[@Tracey-Nichole]

Thanks for this information although it had me in tears. I don’t know where to start. Please keep following this story because the change needs to happen. I’m Jamaican and I know many families here would be worse off if it wasn’t for some of these work program but we are not slaves! And it makes me angry and hurt to know that we are being treated like ‘The Middle Passage’. Madness!!! I’ve liked and subscribed!

[@CookingwithAfton]

So sad they deserve a better living condition

[@kcj7120]

This story is so Heartbreaking 💔 smh 🤦‍♀️ my God!!

[@clarewilliams1223]

Brandon you are an eloquent journalist Speaking and communicating well Keep the good vibes with you

[@beverleyhayes2344]

Thanks you very much

[@CommonSenseSisters]

Listening to Brandon read this letter is soooo painful 😣. Modern day slavery right in a first world 🌎 country

[@glewin7454]

these reports are not new the media doesn’t expose , investigate and report these types of conditions these works have to endure. When they speak out they are blacklisted . The liaison for the workers don’t care the Canadian government and Jamaican government don’t care it’s all about treating disadvantage people unfairly not like humans beings. This is definitely a human rights issue. We all benefit from they hard word they do by having food in the grocery stores. very very sad.

[@maskoncr00ked]

So glad you are covering this. Ongoing problem, not just with farm workers but even people working at fast food restaurants. No person should be treated in this way --

[@blackpalacemusic]

Damn! Just this year i spoke to a brother from Trinidad and he told me his experience as a migrant worker. He said he left when one of his co-workers ended up paralyzed !

[@reynoldvacciana9445]

Thank you Brandon, this mess up my life 14 of us in one place one toilet I ran aways and mess up my life the government need to do something

[@gridfreeca]

Please read basics to land law by Ontario law review it is easy found by doing a search, there is a hidden secret right in the open....

[@NURSEPAULINERN]

Thanks for sharing this interesting video 😊☺️☺️

[@irationroyality6579]

Thanks for sharing

[@leovicious6992]

I am sure if the farmers drove up to a sally-ann they would find men that would work, the reason I think is because it is cheaper for migrant farm workers then actually paying Canadians.

[@shawnogiseanjohn9582]

Sad

[@aglopryce552]

Thanks for covering this store Brandon. Hey BG Squad, this is one of the reasons why we need to support this show. Remember to like, comment and subscribe 😊

[@adassagrant3120]

That is why another of them do not want to go back there thank you for the update

[@Goodnewsgoodeats]

It’s just horrible what people have to go through to put food on their tables.

[@thomaswieland639]

Canadian here. This is so appalling. The world thinks were a utopia but were a temp worker nightmare.

[@rodolfoayalajr.8589]

Emotional 😭. It happens here in America 🇺🇸 too. Condolences to the families and friends. Embarrassing and shameful Farm owners. In Canada 🇨🇦. Rip our brothers and sisters From Manyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Countries. Thank you Mr. Brandon Amen 🙏.

[@rickboer7715]

This should give Canada a Black Eye on the world stage

[@LewisGirls]

This is soo embarrassing! Canada needs to do better. Smh

[@jahman000simpson3]

Very good questions

[@nermasamuels3327]

Mrs Portia Simpson went there and she didn't go sit with them in office she went to the field and saw what our brothers were going through. Now there's no one in Jamaica to help those poor men that are living like slaves but God help us

[@lifewithshaneil7048]

Watching from Jamaica 🇯🇲

[@cynthiacatnott9012]

I pray God that these conditions will be addressed and Farm workers begin to be treated like humans

[@JamaicanIconsCanada]

I hope someone is found guilty and their farm closes like many of others. The Caribbean and Mexican farmers and farm labourers in Canada work hard. Migrating is hard on them, therefore a comfy bed should be the least. They wanted to earn foreign cash and go home. Can you imagine working in such poor conditions? They're sold a dream of working in Canada, and then this occurred. Only to realize this ambition is full of terrible limitations on some farms. These bad farm owners make it hard for future labourers to return. Because of selfish, terrible farm owners? Garvin's death was awful, and I hope that farmworkers' health and safety won't be overlooked in the future.

[@yzma6142]

This is crazy OMG

[@beverleyreid563]

This story is so disgusting on so many levels. This is so heartbreaking. We are all human beings (created by God). Thank you Brandon for covering this story.

[@nadineblake7962]

This is so sad to hear

[@kingdomwatchmanministries2230]

Great job brother. Keep it up.

[@mamasouljah]

There is money problems in Jamaica that's why people won't stay in Jamaica and work at home. There are senseless robbery and killings in Jamaica. People who don't want training to qualify to get a good job and waits for others to work hard and rob and kill them due to bad minded behaviour. Lord have mercy and make people do the right things in Jamaica now. Amen .🙏🏽😘🙏🏽