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The Construction of Migrant Work and Workers by Alberta Legislatorsб 2000-2011

Abstract
This paper explores how government members of the Alberta Legislative Assembly (MLAs) “constructed” migrant work and migrant workers in legislature and media statements between 2000 and 2011. Government MLAs asserted that migrant work (1) was economically necessary and (2) posed no threat to Canadian workers. Government MLAs also asserted that international migrant workers (3) had questionable occupational, linguistic or cultural skills and (4) caused negative social and economic impacts in Canada. Taken individually, these narratives appear contradictory, casting migrant work as good but migrant workers as bad. Viewed together, these narratives comprise an effort to dehumanize temporary and permanent international migrant workers. This (sometimes racialized) “othering” of migrant workers justifies migrant workers’ partial citizenship and suppresses criticism of their poor treatment.
Authors: Jason Foster,Bob Barnetson Publication Date: 1/1/2020

Publication Type: Journal Article

URL:https://research.library.mun.ca/14057/1/ConstructionMigrantWorkCES%20Revision%20july%2014.pdf
Notes

Location

Alberta

Key recommendations

NA

Key populations

Transcripts of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta (Hansard) and rural and urban weekly newspapers by government MLAs about migrant work and migrant worker between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2011.

Key findings

This content analysis study explores the ways in which government MLAs portrayed migrant work and migrant worker in Alberta between 2000 and 2011. The analysis of the data illuminate four contradictory narratives. International migrant work is: (1) economically necessary and (2) posing no threat. On the other hand, international migrant worker were said to have (3) questionable occupational, linguistic or cultural skills and (4) cause negative social and economic impacts in Canada. The narratives suggest that while migrant labour is good, migrant worker are bad.

Gaps identified

The MLA statements discourage international migrant worker to engage in the social, political and economic life of host country because of reasons associated to their legal status as ‘temporary residents’. This reality places the blame on international migrant worker who persumably choose to not engage, reducing them to only ‘economic entities’ to the eyes of host members.

Community organizations

NA

Integration timeline

At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?

NA


Collections discrimination-and-belonging , employment , language

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