Event Details

The Institute for Research on Public Policy, in collaboration with the Cities Centre, University of Toronto, is pleased to invite you to an authors workshop with Luin Goldring (York University) and Patricia Landolt (University of Toronto).The authors will present their recent IRPP study, The Impact of Precarious Legal Status on Immigrants’ Economic Outcomes. Monica Boyd (University of Toronto) and Debbie Douglas (Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants) will be the commentators. The presentation and commentaries will be followed by a discussion period. The workshop will be moderated by Leslie Seidle (Research Director, Diversity, Immigration and Integration, IRPP).

According to Goldring and Landolt, immigrants with precarious legal status – people without permanent residence including temporary foreign workers, refugee claimants, international students and others who may not have work authorization - often end up in precarious work situations that expose them to labour practices that “erode, violate or evade employment standards.” The effects are long lasting, even for those who subsequently become permanent residents. This is especially of concern in a context where “a growing number of newcomers spend time navigating various forms of temporary and probationary legal status before they can apply for permanent residence,” while others remain in a temporary category or stay in Canada without work or residence authorization.

Given recent major changes in Canada’s immigration system, such as large increases in the number of temporary foreign workers and new pathways to permanent residence, the findings reported in this IRPP study have important implications. The authors identify a number of ways to mitigate the effects of precarious status on immigrant economic outcomes.

A light lunch will be available.

There is no fee to attend. As space is limited, we ask you to confirm your presence early by contacting Suzanne Lambert by e-mail at slambert@irpp.org.