The May 9, 2025, press conference of the National Housing Standards for Migrant Agricultural Workers at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo provided important insights for planning researchers focused on rural communities. The Coalition for National Housing Standards for Migrant Agricultural Workers (CoNaMi) led by Dr. Susana Caxaj, successfully brought together a diverse mix of voices, including seasoned researchers, passionate advocates, and community members who have seen or learnt of these housing problems. The panel discussion highlighted the troubling realities that many migrant workers face, including overcrowded living spaces, compromised privacy, and housing conditions that falls far below acceptable safety standards.

What made this gathering particularly significant was its focus on a critical regulatory gap in Canadian policy. Although migrant workers are essential to maintaining Canada’s food security, the lack of federal housing standards has enabled substandard living conditions to persist across provincial lines. The housing consensus document unveiled at the event—shaped by the insights of 29 experts with deep knowledge of the issues—offers a practical, rights-based framework grounded in principles of human dignity, safety, and equity. The initiative supports fieldwork findings that consistently point to the urgent need for standardized enforceable regulations in land use planning.

The discussion went further from immediate housing concerns to critical questions raised about the role and responsibility of planning professionals in advocating for marginalized populations whose opinions are too often absent from policy conversations. The #RaiseTheBar campaign deserves the full backing of the planning community as a vital step toward housing justice and more equitable community development.

Catch the conversation, follow CoNaMi on X/Twitter at https://x.com/CoNaMi12378 and explore additional resources at https://farmworkerhousing.ca/national-housing-standards/

Damilola Oyewale participated in the recent National Housing Standards for Migrant Agricultural Workers event.