Refugee Resettlement and Social Inclusion in Greater Vancouver: An Intersectionality-Based Policy Analysis of Local Immigration Partnership Strategies

Using an intersectionality-based policy analysis, this research examined Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) strategic plans specific to the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, to assess how well these documents accounted for the intersectional identities of refugees. This paper accordingly explored the intersectional identities of refugees–race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion–and how these identities affect the challenges of resettlement, how those challenges compare to those of other immigrant classes, and after an assessment of the way that LIP strategic plans account for these factors, proposes possible areas for strategy improvements. The analysis focused on LIPs in the Greater Vancouver Area, with a primary focus on the Surrey LIP. The reason for this focus is that Surrey, BC has a significant refugee population, and its LIP had the most robust strategy documents. This analysis revealed that LIP strategic plans had positive and thoughtful action points that would ease resettlement challenges, however, they did not consistently consider the intersectional identities of refugees. The analysis concluded that LIPs would benefit from engaging in intersectionality-based policy analysis in the process of writing their next round of strategic plans and action plans. This process would strengthen strategic plans so that LIPs can better support refugees in their communities as these groups carry out their key role in coordinating community services, ultimately easing the unique challenges that refugees of all identities face during resettlement.

Author dc:creator

• Cheng, Shauna

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Canefe, Nergis

• School of humanitarian studies

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-20427

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10613/28862