Outreach 

We do street and public outreach in the areas of Windsor-Essex, Simcoe-Tillsonburg, Brantford and other areas to speak with workers about issues they are seeing on the farms. This includes gathering and sharing information, discussing our work and values, workers’ concerns, and identifying possible solutions. 

Our outreach is ad-hoc, meaning we are in different regions at different times; however we strive to maintain a consistent presence in areas where migrant farmworkers live and work most.

Public Legal Education and Workshops 

We do public legal education and workshops based on issues that workers want to explore. Our workshops are not just legal information or “know your rights”; we hold interactive sessions where workers teach each other and discuss systemic responses to the issues they are seeing. Our workshops are facilitated by experts in a variety of areas, such as immigration, employment, workers’ compensation, pensions and employment insurance, human rights, housing, and health and safety. 

Legal Advice and Case Support 

We have one lawyer at our clinic who takes on cases in a variety of areas. However, we do not accept every worker who inquires about legal assistance. Due to capacity, our clinic can only assist workers who engage in workplace organizing or other community work. Otherwise workers will be referred to other clinics and organizations who do similar legal work. 

Academic and Organizational Alliances 

We have partnerships and alliances with a variety of lawyers, clinics, organizations, and groups that work with and organize with migrant farmworkers. Through these groups we are able to share information and work together for systemic changes. Many individuals who contact our clinic are also referred to these groups for legal and other assistance.

Systemic Advocacy

We take on or participate in cases that have the potential for large-scale changes to migrant worker programs in Canada. This has included intervening in cases at the Ontario Divisional Court and Ontario Superior Court of Justice. 

We also work with organizations like Justicia for Migrant Workers to hold employers and state actors accountable for their treatment of migrant workers, such as through open letters, public rallies, and media campaigns.