COVID-19, Migration, And Globalization

Megan Zelle- November 6th, 2020

As COVID-19 cases surge in Canada, it is important to consider the ramifications that this has on the Canadian economy, as well as how it impacts minorities in Canada. When examining these factors, it becomes evident that Canadian immigration and refugee policy is a critical variable in this consideration. In a globalizing world, immigration is central to the Canadian economy, filling various employment gaps, as well as a key tenant of liberal policies. However, through numerous studies, it has been identified that COVID-19 has not only had a disproportionate impact on immigrants residing in Canada but has also proven detrimental to the human security of future immigrants and refugees seeking asylum. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada needs to rethink its border strategies and policies in order to balance the public health and safety of the country, the economy, and immigrant and refugee lives.

Looking first at the economy, steady immigration into Canada is essential to the country’s economic stability. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Canada has only admitted 34,000 permanent residents in the past few months, a 67% decline from 2019 . Ramos, interviewed by the Globe and Mail identifies the urgency for Canada to make strategic and coherent decisions about immigration throughout COVID-19 is months overdue, writing, “given that Canada’s economic growth is fuelled by migration, that is a worrying scenario... the time to have been working on this was immediately back in March ”. A study by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) also identified the correlation between immigration, COVID-19, and the economy. Migrant workers that are not considered essential during the pandemic (such as doctors, and scientists), may not be able to return to their employment, dangerously impacting the Canadian economy .

Likewise, while Canada depends on steady immigration to fuel the economy, it has also been recognized that immigrants that are permanently in Canada are being affected by COVID-19 in highly disproportionate ways. Between January and June, immigrants and refugees within the province represented 43.5% of all positive cases in Ontario . While there are many probable causes of this analysis, one cannot look past the notion that a large proportion of newcomers to Canada hold minimum wage, temporary jobs where physical distancing is not only difficult, but not as enforced, such as factory and fast food positions. It is also worth mentioning that the majority of these jobs do not provide sick leaves or health benefits, ultimately exposing a large demographic to COVID-19. Not only has this study honed in on systemic inequalities within the employment sector, but it also demonstrates the correspondence between the immigrant population, the Canadian economy, and who is most affected by COVID-19. As the pandemic spreads, Canada needs to address these racial inequalities and barriers facing the immigrant population if they want to slow the spread.

In the same manner, Canada needs to address how COVID-19 has impacted the population of future immigrants and refugees seeking asylum, as the global pandemic has only intensified the refugee crisis. Canada’s inability to enact appropriate policies and procedures for immigration at this time dangerously stranding many asylum seekers. While the Canadian government is attempting to slow the spread of the virus by intermittently closing its borders, liberal policy makers are torn between protecting refugees and controlling their borders and the spread of COVID-19. Some scholars are calling on the federal government to identify a new category of refugees fleeing the virus, similar to those fleeing climate change and war . Beginning in October however, the federal government announced new border measures such as the denial of “any foreign national showing signs or symptoms of COVID 19 ”, as determined by a border services officer. These denials at the border also put refugees seeking asylum and other migrants at risk, as many are locked down in refugee camps or administrative detention, where social distancing and preventative measures are scarce.

The neglect of the federal government to create a proper balance between protecting the health and safety of Canadians and protecting the world’s most vulnerable, as well as Canada’s immigrant workers is visible in the unstable border policies. In a globalized world, Canada needs to establish proper policies and address systemic racism in order to avoid economic dismantle and protect the incoming migrants.

Bibliography

DeClerq, Katherine. “Immigrants and Refugees in Ontario Disproportionately Impacted by COVID-19, New Report Finds.” CP24. CP24, September 9, 2020. https://www.cp24.com/news/immigrants-and-refugees-in-ontario-disproportionately-impacted-by-covid-19-new-report-finds-1.5097357.

“Five Ways COVID-19 Is Changing Global Migration.” Five Ways COVID-19 Is Changing Global Migration | Center for Strategic and International Studies, October 23, 2020. https://www.csis.org/analysis/five-ways-covid-19-changing-global-migration.

Ibbitson, John. “COVID-19 Is Severing a Lifeline of Immigration Canada Needs to Survive. Here's What We Can Do to Repair It,” September 3, 2020. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-covid-19-is-severing-a-lifeline-of-immigration-canada-needs-to-survive/.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. “Government Introduces New Border Measures to Protect Canadian Public Health, Provides Update on Travel Rest...” Canada.ca. Government of Canada, October 2, 2020. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2020/10/government-introduces-new-border-measures-to-protect-canadian-public-health-provides-update-on-travel-restrictions.html.

Levitz, Stephanie. “Thousands of Lives on Hold as Canada's Immigration System Remains Largely Shut down by Pandemic.” The Globe and Mail, July 20, 2020. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-thousands-of-lives-on-hold-as-canadas-immigration-system-remains/.

Nicholas A. R. Fraser. Originally published on Policy Options June 3, 2020. “Reassessing Canada's Refugee Policy in the COVID-19 Era.” Policy Options. Accessed October 9, 2020. https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/june-2020/reassessing-canadas-refugee-policy-in-the-covid-19-era/.