Elise Pundyk

As world leaders have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, regular pathways for migrants have been limited through major disruptions to visa and residence permit processes. It has been determined in Canada that sweeping changes to programs, such as the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP), can leave thousands of migrants in irregular migration situations that are beyond their control. With the loss of legal status, comes the loss of crucial social supports, such as access to healthcare. Young people and women are especially vulnerable when facing irregular status.

In Alberta, the newly intensified limitations to the TFWP have left migrants, who arrived through regular pathways, uncertain as to what will happen once their work permits expire in the near future.

Protecting regular pathways to migration must be a priority for the government during this health crisis, and beyond, as we emerge from the pandemic towards a more just future. We must find a way to increase their accessibility to regular pathways for migration, and welcome, protect and better integrate migrants within our communities. In Alberta, we can build partnerships to ensure gaps in migrant protection are addressed.

In Alberta, youth are leading initiatives that support migration and development, such as Gerard Mutabazi Amani of Edmonton, who is the Founder and Executive Director of Global Mission Adovcacy (GMA) Talk. This media platform shines a light on narratives on migration in a way that combats xenophobia and misinformation, raises awareness, and facilitates community prosperity. For this work, Gerard was recognized internationally alongside nine finalists for the Youth Leadership and Innovation Award that our team at MGCY Migration organized and held within the Main Space at the GFMD. This event highlighted youth as key partners and leaders, who are essential players in realizing the shared goals of migration and development at the GFMD.

On Alberta campuses, youth lead refugee sponsorships through the World University Service of Canada, pairs resettlement with education. Youth are passionate about shaping the future world we will inherit, and there is great opportunity for stakeholders to partner with youth leaders on the ground who are working hard to address these gaps. This issue relates to a broader global issue in the deepening gaps in protection of migrants that are being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the MGCY Migration youth delegation at the GFMD this year, we strongly called for and provided examples of concrete solutions to address these gaps during our interventions in the government roundtables and side events.