Last week I received good news from Dr. Suzanna Crage, Visiting Researcher. She informed me that one of my papers had been accepted by the UBC Institute for European Studies (IES) to be presented at their multidisciplinary graduate conference on immigration in Europe and North America. The event is sponsored by the UBC Institute for European Studies and cosponsored by the SSHRC-funded Transatlantic Dialogue Project. This conference aims to bring together graduate students who are working on immigration in the social sciences and related fields. Further, the conference organizers aim to provide a setting for discussion of work that will allow us to examine and compare immigration issues in Europe and North America.
My paper for the IES conference will address government policies and practices by the governments of Canada and (province of) British Columbia, and the work of non-governmental organizations and community-based groups regarding the provision of free public legal air/advocacy for migrant workers and other people with precarious migration status. My paper falls within three of UBC IES’s conference themes: Limiting Immigration, Wanted Migrants, and Integration & Citizenship. The themes are defined by UBC IES as:
“Limiting Immigration. Many countries seek to limit the number and types of people who cross or stay within their borders. Even as states develop domestic priorities and programs, they are setting international agreements, treaties and regulations designed to enhance border control. People continue to arrive, however, and publics and elites continue to debate whether, and what kinds of, limits should be set, and how they should be enforced.
Wanted Migrants. Not all immigrants are unwante: most countries welcome some immigrants with specific identities or ties, and many have declared a desire for people with certain backgrounds or skills. Decisions about who to allow or encourage reflect domestic principles and priorities. Recruitment and admissions practices vary, however, along with their success.
Integration & Citizenship. What happens once immigrants arrive, from initial integration practices to citizenship policies? Integration and multiculturalism models and goals vary across countries, time, and governmental and societal arenas. The practical implementation of policies and programs also vary, as do integration trends in a variety of arenas (such as education, employment, housing…).” Source: IES website
The conference will be held from Friday Nov. 30th to Saturday Dec. 1, 2012 at the C.K Choi Building, UBC Vancouver.
Click here to link to more information from the UBC IES about their conference.