About HIPP

Canada is becoming increasingly diverse. In 2016, Canada welcomed nearly 300,000 permanent residents. Migrants to Canada also include refugees, refugee claimants, and temporary foreign workers. Statistics Canada data shows that immigrants arrive in Canada much healthier than Canadian-born populations, a phenomenon known as "The healthy immigrant effect." The central reason for the difference in health status is the immigration selection process for skilled workers (the largest group of immigrants), which focuses on admitting only individuals in excellent health. However, research evidence suggests that the initial health advantage of immigrants tends to decline after a period of time in Canada.

The Health and Immigration Policy and Practices Research Program (HIPP) seeks to address the decline in immigrant health, by focusing on the health of the most vulnerable groups of immigrants, including those with precarious migration status. Our research aims to inform policy innovations to address emergent issues concerning migrant health in an era of global displacement and forced movement.