- Brief created: 2022
- For policymakers
- Canada
Temporariness, Rights, and Citizenship: The Latest Chapter in Canada’s Exclusionary Migration and Refugee History
Based on:
Journal Article (2014) ↗
This work examines the similarities and differences between refugee claimants and low-skilled temporary foreign workers in Canada on the path to gaining citizenship, and the exclusionary circumstances they face.
Brief by:
The research paper examines Canada’s exclusionary migrant history, specifically the similarities between two groups of non-citizens: lower-skilled temporary foreign workers and refugee claimants.
In 2014, Canada’s Economic Action Plan increased the occurrence and persistence of temporariness for both groups. Increasing temporariness systematically excludes these groups from a wide array of rights such as provincial workplace standards, family (re) unification, permanent status, and eligibility for citizenship.
Key findings
There are some important differences between non-citizens: lower-skilled temporary foreign workers and refugee claimants as well.
Refugee claimants have access to social assistance but reduced rights to work, while low-skilled temporary foreign workers face more restrictive labour market options (work permits are tied to specific employers) but without rights to social assistance anywhere in Canada, relying on employers and private actors for basic needs.
The exclusionary nature of these restrictions reflects the host country’s discriminatory history and contemporary devaluation of select groups of temporary residents.
Restricting citizenship increases individual's vulnerability and social exclusion.
Effective policy should view these two groups as theoretically and experimentally linked.
Although the groups differ in some respects, linking them may help Canada avoid their dark, exclusionary past.
Proposed action
States must consider the effectiveness of communicating the eligibility and conditions associated with different migration schemes – asking important questions such as
Status for all - arriving with permanent status in the host country remains the most effective strategy to ensure that non-citizens can access substantive citizenship rights
As states consider more two-step migration - providing new pathways for temporary residents to transition into permanent residents – they should reconsider the focus on employment as a signal of contributions since it often leads to increased employer exploitation, survival employment instead of commensurate employment, and downward labour mobility
States and service organisations should stop viewing each of the schemes and its applicants (e
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Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Tyree Vasconcellos for preparation assistance
We would like to extend a special thank you to Tyree Vasconcellos, for their invaluable contribution in assisting the preparation of this research summary.
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Temporariness, Rights, and Citizenship: The Latest Chapter in Canada’s Exclusionary Migration and Refugee History
Cite this brief: Hari, Amrita. 'Temporariness, Rights, and Citizenship: The Latest Chapter in Canada’s Exclusionary Migration and Refugee History'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/temporariness-rights-and-citizenship/
Brief created by: Dr Amrita Hari | Year brief made: 2022
Original research:
- Hari, A., ‘Temporariness, Rights, and Citizenship: The Latest Chapter in Canada’s Exclusionary Migration and Refugee History’ 30(2) (pp. 35–44) https://doi.org/10.25071/1920-7336.39617. – https://refuge.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/refuge/article/view/39617
Research brief:
This work examines the similarities and differences between refugee claimants and low-skilled temporary foreign workers in Canada on the path to gaining citizenship, and the exclusionary circumstances they face.
The research paper examines Canada’s exclusionary migrant history, specifically the similarities between two groups of non-citizens: lower-skilled temporary foreign workers and refugee claimants.
In 2014, Canada’s Economic Action Plan increased the occurrence and persistence of temporariness for both groups. Increasing temporariness systematically excludes these groups from a wide array of rights such as provincial workplace standards, family (re) unification, permanent status, and eligibility for citizenship.
Findings:
There are some important differences between non-citizens: lower-skilled temporary foreign workers and refugee claimants as well.
Refugee claimants have access to social assistance but reduced rights to work, while low-skilled temporary foreign workers face more restrictive labour market options (work permits are tied to specific employers) but without rights to social assistance anywhere in Canada, relying on employers and private actors for basic needs.
The exclusionary nature of these restrictions reflects the host country’s discriminatory history and contemporary devaluation of select groups of temporary residents.
Restricting citizenship increases individual’s vulnerability and social exclusion.
Effective policy should view these two groups as theoretically and experimentally linked.
Although the groups differ in some respects, linking them may help Canada avoid their dark, exclusionary past.
Advice:
States must consider the effectiveness of communicating the eligibility and conditions associated with different migration schemes – asking important questions such as
- who is the information reaching? How might it help them? Who is being missed and how can they be informed?
Status for all – arriving with permanent status in the host country remains the most effective strategy to ensure that non-citizens can access substantive citizenship rights
As states consider more two-step migration – providing new pathways for temporary residents to transition into permanent residents – they should reconsider the focus on employment as a signal of contributions since it often leads to increased employer exploitation, survival employment instead of commensurate employment, and downward labour mobility
States and service organisations should stop viewing each of the schemes and its applicants (e
- g., refugee claimants, international students, temporary foreign workers, etc.) in siloes and start to identify the commonalities among them to provide better services.