Racism toward migrant workers in N.S. on the rise due to misinformation, agency says

Temporary foreign workers in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley are facing increased racism and hatred because of misinformation about housing and the cost of living, according to an advocacy group.

The Centre for Migrant Worker Rights Nova Scotia has developed community workshops aimed at combating what staff call the "scapegoating" of people from other countries who are working in the province. 

"We're helping to provide a space for community members to meet and organize and take care of each other amidst many stresses we are all facing because we are all struggling with these big issues," said Jackie Mlotek, the centre's co-ordinator for the Annapolis Valley.

Mlotek said not only is false information being spread by media and social media, but the federal government's recent cut to immigration was said to be done to alleviate pressure on housing and social services. 

"The misinformation we're trying to debunk is that migrant workers are specifically … not to blame for these broader issues," Mlotek said. 

'Huge problem' without migrant workers

Mlotek said there were 4,150 migrant workers in Nova Scotia last year compared to 1,510 in 2015. These workers play a significant role in the province's economy, Mlotek said.

"They play a major role in the [Annapolis] Valley and help us harvest a lot of the crops," said David Corkum, mayor of the Municipality of Kings County. "I know that without them it would certainly be a large problem for many of our farmers."

Corkum said many of the farmers he knows make arrangements to house migrant workers on their own property.

Housing is a problem across the province and the country and there are several factors behind it, he said. "I don't think that they can be blamed for creating the housing shortage. It's something that is, in many cases, worldwide."