Three young farmworkers stop work to pose at a Clearbrook farm. Pacific Tribune Photo
" Imagine the public outcry if it were determined that the children of the dominant white working-class majority were attending dangerous industrial work sites, such as construction or chemical manufacturing, because no childcare options were available to the parents. However, the children to which we refer are the children of people of colour who have immigrated to Canada in pursuit of work and a better life....Despite the fact that the children of farmworkers are subjected to dangerous conditions at the work sites, very little public debate has dealt with this important issue." - Farmworkers and Their Children, 1995
"Today, in the absence of public scrutiny and the vigilance of the community, pesticide drums are dumped behind barns. The ministry of the environment employs a handful of inspectors, none of which are solely focused on the agriculture industry. Despite recent changes by the WCB to include the inspection of farm work sites, old machinery is stored haphazardly and creates an unsafe environment for children. Due to ignorance of the regulations, at times children accompany their parents to the fields before an appropriate no-entry period has lapsed. Because of the location of the work, childcare facilities are unavailable to farmworkers. In addition, most childcare would cost farmworkers more than they earn in a whole day." - Farmworkers and Their Children, 1995