Research Library

The “Accessing Mental Health Services in Alberta” research project was initiated by the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA) to assess the diversity of mental health services available to newcomers in Alberta and offer recommendations for improving accessibility. The report highlights the challenges that newcomers face when accessing mental health services, as well as gaps in the existing mental health system in Alberta. Overall, the report emphasizes the importance of addressing the specific needs of newcomers in mental health service provision and improving accessibility to ensure that all Albertans have access to the care they need. The “Accessing Mental Health Services in Alberta” research project was initiated by the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA) to assess the diversity of mental health services available to newcomers in Alberta and offer recommendations for improving accessibility. The report highlights the challenges that newcomers face when accessing mental health services, as well as gaps in the existing mental health system in Alberta. Overall, the report emphasizes the importance of addressing the specific needs of newcomers in mental health service provision and improving accessibility to ensure that all Albertans have access to the care they need.
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This is an environmental scan. It examines the impact of federal policy changes on the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) and the flow of nominees to the Alberta labour market and communities. It was found that the AINP has taken on a broad scope of helping to achieve provincial economic and labour market needs. It is mainly low/semi-skilled TFWs who use the program to achieve residency, as the federal immigration streams tend to have higher requirements. The program itself has been criticized for creating a vulnerable environment for TFWs in addition to its limited capacity to process applications in a timely manner. The key learnings of the report find that immigrant retention is best achieved through community and family support. Although there were moves away from this with the closing of the family stream of the AINP in 2013, the new Liberal government has highlighted family reunification as a key immigration goal. However, federal and provincial immigration goals have also been shown to conflict with each other, as the provincial labour market need for low/semi-skilled workers is misaligned with the federal target of a highly-skilled and educated workforce. Lack of intergovernmental communication in the past resulted in confusion and little consideration of how immigration streams may influence each other. Behaviour of employers is also as a key factor contributing to TFW vulnerability. Thus, we recommend increasing intergovernmental communication and lateral dialogue on policy changes and how they may affect other immigration streams. Long-term labour market assessments are recommended to support the provision of residency to immigrants who are needed most. Furthermore, the AINP’s structural complexity should be reduced to be more inclusive, consistent and easy to access for applicants. Greater accountability, transparency and oversight should also be employed to reduce labour abuses and reduce the vulnerability of nominees of the program. This is an environmental scan. It examines the impact of federal policy changes on the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) and the flow of nominees to the Alberta labour market and communities. It was found that the AINP has taken on a broad scope of helping to achieve provincial economic and labour market needs. It is mainly low/semi-skilled TFWs who use the program to achieve residency, as the federal immigration streams tend to have higher requirements. The program itself has been criticized for creating a vulnerable environment for TFWs in addition to its limited capacity to process applications in a timely manner. The key learnings of the report find that immigrant retention is best achieved through community and family support. Although there were moves away from this with the closing of the family stream of the AINP in 2013, the new Liberal government has highlighted family reunification as a key immigration goal. However, federal and provincial immigration goals have also been shown to conflict with each other, as the provincial labour market need for low/semi-skilled workers is misaligned with the federal target of a highly-skilled and educated workforce. Lack of intergovernmental communication in the past resulted in confusion and little consideration of how immigration streams may influence each other. Behaviour of employers is also as a key factor contributing to TFW vulnerability. Thus, we recommend increasing intergovernmental communication and lateral dialogue on policy changes and how they may affect other immigration streams. Long-term labour market assessments are recommended to support the provision of residency to immigrants who are needed most. Furthermore, the AINP’s structural complexity should be reduced to be more inclusive, consistent and easy to access for applicants. Greater accountability, transparency and oversight should also be employed to reduce labour abuses and reduce the vulnerability of nominees of the program.
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Migration is an experience of the self, a personal journey for those who leave their places of origin. The movement from one place to another carries with it material and subjective meanings. Mobility also implies change, transformation or seeming difference in its social interactions with another culture or a different social system. These changes undeniably affect one’s notion of identity and belonging. This chapter uses a feminist approach in examining selected personal case studies of Filipina immigrants in Lethbridge, a small city in southern Alberta. This chapter demonstrates how gender roles, labour migration and identity construction are interconnected. A concluding section deals with the prospect of whether these Filipina immigrants will stay or leave the city, emphasizing the best the city has to offer or not. Migration is an experience of the self, a personal journey for those who leave their places of origin. The movement from one place to another carries with it material and subjective meanings. Mobility also implies change, transformation or seeming difference in its social interactions with another culture or a different social system. These changes undeniably affect one’s notion of identity and belonging. This chapter uses a feminist approach in examining selected personal case studies of Filipina immigrants in Lethbridge, a small city in southern Alberta. This chapter demonstrates how gender roles, labour migration and identity construction are interconnected. A concluding section deals with the prospect of whether these Filipina immigrants will stay or leave the city, emphasizing the best the city has to offer or not.
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Red Deer created the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities (WIC) Network in late 2015. This needs assessment gathered newcomer demographics in Red Deer, available resources in the area, and how well the needs of the community are being met. Red Deer created the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities (WIC) Network in late 2015. This needs assessment gathered newcomer demographics in Red Deer, available resources in the area, and how well the needs of the community are being met.
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Following a peak in the number of migrants admitted to Canada via its Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the program underwent significant changes in 2014 and 2015 that will undoubtedly affect the lives of temporary foreign workers in Canada. These changes include a limitation on the length of time temporary foreign workers are allowed to remain in the country, a greater distinction between high- and low-wage workers, and more restricted rights for low-wage workers. So far, the impacts of these recent policy changes on temporary foreign workers in Canada have not been the subject of much research. Thus, we sought to examine the impact of recent policy changes of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program on these migrants specifically in Alberta. Findings from the focus groups reveal that the recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program policy have created a burden for temporary foreign workers as well as their employers, intensified the exploitation of migrant workers, and contributed to a high level of anxiety and poor mental health status among these workers. This study has two major policy recommendations: (1) grant open work permits to temporary foreign workers, and (2) create pathways to citizenship for low-skilled temporary foreign workers in Alberta. The study also recognizes a need for future action research. Following a peak in the number of migrants admitted to Canada via its Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the program underwent significant changes in 2014 and 2015 that will undoubtedly affect the lives of temporary foreign workers in Canada. These changes include a limitation on the length of time temporary foreign workers are allowed to remain in the country, a greater distinction between high- and low-wage workers, and more restricted rights for low-wage workers. So far, the impacts of these recent policy changes on temporary foreign workers in Canada have not been the subject of much research. Thus, we sought to examine the impact of recent policy changes of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program on these migrants specifically in Alberta. Findings from the focus groups reveal that the recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program policy have created a burden for temporary foreign workers as well as their employers, intensified the exploitation of migrant workers, and contributed to a high level of anxiety and poor mental health status among these workers. This study has two major policy recommendations: (1) grant open work permits to temporary foreign workers, and (2) create pathways to citizenship for low-skilled temporary foreign workers in Alberta. The study also recognizes a need for future action research.
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Alberta relies on temporary foreign workers far more than any other province. This report documents the result of a survey with front-line workers in settlement and other community organizations who work with newcomers. In Alberta, the survey results show that migrant workers need more support, safety, advocacy, and services. Interim healthcare and an easier pathway for Permanent Residency should also be available for migrant workers. Alberta relies on temporary foreign workers far more than any other province. This report documents the result of a survey with front-line workers in settlement and other community organizations who work with newcomers. In Alberta, the survey results show that migrant workers need more support, safety, advocacy, and services. Interim healthcare and an easier pathway for Permanent Residency should also be available for migrant workers.
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In 2016, Edmonton’s Vital Signs community report focused on the city’s immigrant and refugee population. The report discusses the value immigrants bring to the city, settlement and integration processes, statistics on newcomer health, employment and wellbeing, as well as true stories from Edmonton newcomers. In 2016, Edmonton’s Vital Signs community report focused on the city’s immigrant and refugee population. The report discusses the value immigrants bring to the city, settlement and integration processes, statistics on newcomer health, employment and wellbeing, as well as true stories from Edmonton newcomers.
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Filipinos have been one of the largest groups of newcomers to Canada since the 1980s. Pre-arrival services defined early success in the settlement and integration of Filipinos in Alberta. Both the Canadian and Filipino governments need to increase services to fill gaps and connect pre-arrival services to post-arrival. Filipinos have been one of the largest groups of newcomers to Canada since the 1980s. Pre-arrival services defined early success in the settlement and integration of Filipinos in Alberta. Both the Canadian and Filipino governments need to increase services to fill gaps and connect pre-arrival services to post-arrival.
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This research report offers a summary of the current context in which children and youth of immigrant families (CYIF) are living and includes a baseline inventory of services mandated to support the equitable outcomes of that population. The research also examines the critical role and relationships of people who contribute to these children’s well-being—such as parents, teachers, and community support workers. Integration is understood as a threefold process of: cultural maintenance, participation in the larger society, and public accommodation and inclusion. This means that, in accordance with multicultural policy, it is not only the newcomer who is in a process of adjustment, but the city as a whole that is learning to facilitate the civic engagement of all residents. Immigrant families and children are more likely to live in poverty than non-immigrant families; parents must adjust to new demands in their role as a parent and to parenting in a cross-cultural context; and their children must also navigate cross-cultural expectations and values. Similarly, integration into the school and other social systems can be challenging both for immigrant parents and their children, as they navigate different cultural expectations and often learning English for the first time. Similarly, educators and administrators are adjusting to more diverse classrooms with a higher proportion of English language learners and often larger class sizes. Social and civic engagement in the community can be particularly challenging for children and youth of immigrant families (CYIF), many of whom report discrimination, a lack of cultural sensitivity, and marginalization. This can limit access to services, the formation of a sense of belonging, and full participation in all aspects of social life. A lack of inclusion can significantly challenge the formation of a healthy identity and self-concept, and the transition to adulthood. This research report offers a summary of the current context in which children and youth of immigrant families (CYIF) are living and includes a baseline inventory of services mandated to support the equitable outcomes of that population. The research also examines the critical role and relationships of people who contribute to these children’s well-being—such as parents, teachers, and community support workers. Integration is understood as a threefold process of: cultural maintenance, participation in the larger society, and public accommodation and inclusion. This means that, in accordance with multicultural policy, it is not only the newcomer who is in a process of adjustment, but the city as a whole that is learning to facilitate the civic engagement of all residents. Immigrant families and children are more likely to live in poverty than non-immigrant families; parents must adjust to new demands in their role as a parent and to parenting in a cross-cultural context; and their children must also navigate cross-cultural expectations and values. Similarly, integration into the school and other social systems can be challenging both for immigrant parents and their children, as they navigate different cultural expectations and often learning English for the first time. Similarly, educators and administrators are adjusting to more diverse classrooms with a higher proportion of English language learners and often larger class sizes. Social and civic engagement in the community can be particularly challenging for children and youth of immigrant families (CYIF), many of whom report discrimination, a lack of cultural sensitivity, and marginalization. This can limit access to services, the formation of a sense of belonging, and full participation in all aspects of social life. A lack of inclusion can significantly challenge the formation of a healthy identity and self-concept, and the transition to adulthood.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This provincial report describes current capacities and gaps in settlement services in eight small urban centres and rural communities in Alberta. Communities involved were Red Deer, Wood Buffalo, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, Brooks, Lloydminster, and Fort Saskatchewan. This provincial report describes current capacities and gaps in settlement services in eight small urban centres and rural communities in Alberta. Communities involved were Red Deer, Wood Buffalo, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, Brooks, Lloydminster, and Fort Saskatchewan.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly