Project Brief
This short two page summary briefly outlines the goals of the CEP project, the target population for the survey and the expected project outcomes.
Reports
Hidden in Plain Sight: Precarious Legal Status Trajectories and their Long-term Consequences (PDF)
This report presents findings from the Citizenship & Employment Precarity (CEP). Conducted in 2019, this was the first survey in Canada to measure the impacts of legal status for temporary entrants using a five-dimensional model and a community-informed approach. Based on data from 1,237 temporary entrants living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the survey found evidence of complex and unexpected legal status trajectories, coined “precarious legal status trajectories” (PLSTs). The study shows that entering Canada on a temporary basis had multiple and cumulative disadvantages. Spending money, effort, and time navigating the immigration, refugee, and temporary worker systems had negative effects on long-term health and job quality for temporary entrants. Likewise, periods of illegalization were experienced across all entrance categories and had negative consequences even where permanent residence and citizenship was eventually achieved. Current policies do not consider whether temporariness and potential illegalization do not constitute a hazard for health or job quality. We offer evidence that they do.. The report is aimed at practitioners who work with precarious status migrants, as well as academics, policy makers, and the interested public. It includes detailed information on the survey design and methodology for those who want to replicate data collection on PLSTs beyond the GTA.
Multiple Jeopardy is the second report from a collaboration between the CEP project and FCJ Refugee Centre. It examines the complex impacts of the pandemic on non-status migrants (NSMs) in the GTA focusing on families, health, and work. How did this already highly vulnerable population cope? How did the additional jeopardy of precarious immigration status intersect with low-income work, racialization and gender to shape experiences? The document describes the harmful and potentially long-lasting impacts of the pandemic for this population. It details strategies and key points of support that contributed to their ability to survive amid enormous stress. Our findings also reveal the limited effectiveness of policy change when the specific needs of a target population are ignored, and when policy changes are not effectively communicated.
FCJ-CEP Pandemic Precarities Survey Report (PDF)
This is the first community report from a collaboration between the CEP project and the FCJ Refugee Centre on Non-status migrant exclusions and responses under COVID-19 in Toronto. This report is based on a survey of 195 respondents, current or former recipients of services from FCJ. The survey examines the impacts of the pandemic on respondents and their families by tracking pre-pandemic to pandemic changes in several areas. This report focuses on changes in immigration status, work, housing, health and social supports.
Agency Consultations – Summary Report
In 2016, the CEP research team conducted agency consultations with managers and front-line workers from thirty-five settlement, employment and social service agencies in the GTA. This report summarizes the many challenges brought forward by these groups that help serve newcomers.
Agency Consultations – Full Report
In 2016, the CEP research team conducted agency consultations with managers and front-line workers from thirty-five settlement, employment and social service agencies in the GTA. This report summarizes the many challenges brought forward by these groups that help serve newcomers.
