Migrant Health in a Time of Pandemic: Fallacies of Us-Versus-Them

Abstract

International migrants—including, among others, immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, foreign workers, and international students—are at greater risk of being affected by COVID-19. However, following the onset of the pandemic, many of them continue to be denied publicly funded health care and income supports in Canada. For migrants who are granted entitlement to these government programs, significant access barriers exist. These exclusionary policies underscore a dynamic of us-versus-them, in which migrants are portrayed as a threat to public health and undeserving of the Canadian society’s help. This process of “othering” fails to adequately appreciate migrants’ belonging in and contributions to Canada. It runs counter to the principles of equality and reciprocity that are central to our legal order, and it also risks compromising our collective pursuit of public health. An effective response to the current pandemic requires solidarity among all members of society instead of insistent line drawing between citizens and migrants who are similarly situated.

Keywords: COVID-19, Canada, international migrants, health care