Many Canadians may not realize that the apples in their fruit basket or the flowers brought home to family may be there because of the contributions of a migrant farm worker (MFW) to the nation. Despite having such a significant impact on the Canadian agricultural landscape, MFWs face inequities in health care access and delivery across the country. In this two part series, Sebastian Lopez Steven, (UBC MSI 2) engages with healthcare workers that provide care to these individuals in British Columbia. Join us for enlightening conversations regarding the major health issues for MFWs and how to bring care to these individuals in a culturally competent manner.

Episode 1 focuses on a chat with Christelle Kuenzig, a nurse practitioner who provides care for MFWs in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. We chat with Christelle about a general approach to healthcare provision in this population and what needs to change to ensure equity for MFWs across the province and the country.

Resources for the listener

1. Overview of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) as part of the temporary foreign worker framework in Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers/agricultural/seasonal-agricultural.html

2. Salami, B., Meharali, S., & Salami, A. (2015). The health of temporary foreign workers in Canada: A scoping review. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 106(8), e546–e554. https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.106.5182

3. Istiko, S. N., Durham, J., & Elliott, L. (2022). (Not That) Essential: A Scoping Review of Migrant Workers’ Access to Health Services and Social Protection during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052981

12. Migrant Farm Worker Health Part 1: Providing Care for Migrant Farm Workers in British Columbia