Refugee Resettlement Policy Brief: The Question of Belonging

Abstract

Belonging has to do with public attitudes as well as preparedness in terms of infrastructure, jobs, and programming for newcomers. ‘Who belongs to Canada’ is a policy question which should be addressed not to newcomers, but to the Canadian public. Who is eligible for which services? Should immigration categories determine who can access basic human rights, such as healthcare? What opportunities are accessible to newcomers to become permanent residents and to benefit from the communities and economies they are helping to build?

This policy brief summarizes a conversation between Ali Duale – MLA for Halifax Armdale and former refugee from Somalia, Dr. Nicole Ives – Associate Professor of Social Work at McGill University, and Sherman Chan – Director of Family and Settlement Support at MOSAIC B.C., in the third and final special episode of CYRRC’s podcast, The Refuge – Policy Matters. The discussion covers the importance of newcomers’ sense of belonging, factors affecting belonging, and recommendations on how to improve belonging for newcomers to Canada.