Towards a Sanctuary Province: Policies, Programs, and Services for Illegalized Immigrants’ Equitable Employment, Social Participation, and Economic Development

Given contemporary federal migration policies, Canada can expect increasing numbers of immigrants who do not possess legal status. The exploitation of these “illegalized” immigrants in the labour market affects wages and labour standards for all Canadians. To mitigate the negative effects of federal immigration policies, Toronto and Hamilton have declared themselves sanctuary cities. In this working paper, we explore initiatives that could be applied at the provincial and territorial scale to enhance access to employment for illegalized immigrants. After conducting a scoping analysis of the literature, we conclude that provinces and territories could implement a range of programs, policies, and service deliveries.