Source : Industrial Accident Victims’ Group of Ontario (IAVGO)

Peart Family continues quest for justice for deceased migrant worker: Ontario Superior Court to hear appeal

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - November 07, 2016) -

Who: Migrant workers and community allies demanding Justice For Ned Livingston Peart

What: Ontario Superior Court to hear appeal regarding death of migrant worker

Where: Osgoode Hall (130 Queen St West, Toronto)

When: Monday, November 7th starting at 10:00am.

On November 7th, the family of Ned Livingston Peart is bringing forth legal action at Ontario's Superior Court with the hope of ending their 16 year quest for justice. In 2002, Peart a migrant farm worker from Jamaica was killed in a workplace accident near Brantford, Ontario.

Denied a coroner's inquest, the family of Mr. Peart filed a human rights complaint in 2005 seeking justice and ending the differential treatment that migrant workers face under the Coroners Act of Ontario In 2013 the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario ruled against the family. Today the family of Mr. Peart continues with their fight to the steps of Ontario Superior Court.

To date there has never been an inquest into the death of any migrant farm workers employed under the auspices of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) which began in 1966. Migrant workers employed under the SAWP face unique vulnerabilities because of being employed on a tied work permit, no labour or social mobility and no access to permanent residency.

"Today's legal proceedings if successful can have far and long lasting implications in addressing the dangerous and deadly working conditions faced by migrant workers," says Tanya Ferguson, organizer with Justicia for Migrant Workers (J4MW). "It's time that we face the hard cold truth, our governing laws and our public institutions deny equal access and fairness to one of the most marginalized groups in our society," continues Ferguson.

"For 50 years migrant farm workers have been dying in our fields with no recourse from the province," says Consuelo Rubio, longtime activist and Justicia member. "The Peart family's courageous fight for justice must be heard and steps taken to end the pain and suffering they have endured over the past 16 years," continues Rubio.

The Peart family are being represented by prominent human rights lawyer and former Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission Raj Anand. The court will also hear from intervenors representing the African Canadian Legal Clinic, Industrial Accident Victims Group Of Ontario and the South Asian Legal Clinic Of Ontario about the significance of this case.

Contact Information:

For more information please contact
Chris Ramsaroop
647 834 4932
ramsaroopchris@gmail.com