Migration and Precarity

Salami, B. (PI), Foster, J. (Co-I), Vallianatos, H. (Co-I), Okeke-Ihejirika, P. (Co-I), Piper, N. (Collaborator), Luciano, M. (Collaborator), & Juen, J. (Collaborator). (2017 to 2020). Migration and precarity: From the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to permanent resident, student and undocumented migrant status. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Grant. $197,145.

Matching fund from Kule Institute for Advanced Studies. An additional $3,000

Background/ Purpose: Up to 300,000 temporary foreign workers (TFWs) lived in Canada in the year 2014.. Changes to immigration policy in 2014 and 2015 mandated that TFWs exit the country after four years of work in Canada and remain outside of Canada for another four years before possible re-entry. This policy change meant that the visas of an estimated 70,000 TFWs expired on April 1, 2015. Based on media reports and previous research conducted by the principal investigator on the impact of policy changes on TFWs, a significant number of TFWs transitioned to the underground economy as undocumented migrants. Others transitioned to international student status or permanent resident status. There is a paucity of research on the factors that shape the pathways from being a TFW to other status in Canada and how TFWs' agency can be further leveraged to address their precarious migration status in Canada. Drawing on data from Alberta, the largest destination province for TFWs, we will examine the factors that shape the transition of TFWs to another status (e.g., permanent resident, student, and undocumented) and propose concrete ways for TFWs to increase their agency and challenge their marginal status in Canada. Our objectives include:

• To investigate the factors that shape the transition of TFWs to permanent residents, international students, and undocumented migrants in Canada;

• To examine how TFWs, who transition to undocumented migrants and students in Canada, contend with and navigate their lives in Canada;

• To examine opportunities that exist to engage TFWs to challenge systemic processes that contribute to becoming undocumented in Canada.

Methodology: We will use transnational theory to examine the transnational linkages in which migrant lives are embedded; a participatory action research methodology will be employed. Four data sources guide this study: 1) analysis of documents, including policy documents, that shape the transition experience of TFWs in Alberta; 2) interviews of 32 to 40 TFWs who have transitioned to permanent resident, international student, and undocumented status as well as current TFWs (8 to 10 participants in each category); 3) interviews of approximately 20 members of informal and formal support systems TFWs have relied on to navigate their paths in Canada; 4) four focus groups with 32 to 40 previous and current TFWs in Alberta. Our participatory action research project will be guided by an advisory committee team that will include TFWs, service providers, and policymakers. We will also engage in monthly conversation cafés with TFWs. In addition to basic ethics requirements, to attend to ethical issues with this highly vulnerable population, we will only obtain oral consent from participants and they will not be required to provide identifying information to the researchers. Data analysis will involve thematic analysis aided by NVivo 10 data analysis software.

Potential Impact/ Knowledge Mobilization: This study will provide insights to immigration policymakers for effective immigration policies as they relate to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and strategies for tackling the growing rate of undocumented migrants in Canada. The study will mobilize the agency of TFWs to meet the systemic challenges they face in Canada. Knowledge mobilization to policymakers, service providers, and TFWs will involve the dissemination of the results on our website and in a policy brief, a practice brief, and media release. Financial and in-kind contributions from the Kule Institute for Advanced Studies (KIAS) will enable us to deliver a series of multi-stakeholder engagement sessions. Academic knowledge mobilization will involve a minimum of four peer-reviewed publications and a minimum of four conference presentations.