A new report finds the COVID-19 pandemic has had an “uneven” impact on immigrants and migrants in Canada, with some positive outcomes alongside serious hardships such as border closures and exposure risk at home and work.

The report, COVID-19, Migration and the Canadian Immigration System: Dimensions, Impact and Resilience, examines the impact of the first four months of the pandemic on various populations including temporary workers, recent immigrants, international students, asylum seekers, and other immigrants and migrants. It assesses how these groups have been affected by pandemic responses, such as border closures, racism, and access to government benefits.

The report finds that migrants and immigrants face higher risks of contracting COVID-19 in professional settings at unskilled jobs that are now viewed as frontline, essential roles. Those risks are further elevated by an increased likelihood of crowded, dense housing conditions and neighbourhoods, and a greater reliance on public transit.

Access to government-sponsored programs and supports is also an issue for some immigrants and migrants, who don’t qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Likewise, closures and restrictions at public spaces, such as libraries, have deprived some immigrants and migrants of a place to use computers and the internet.

While immigrant and migrant communities have broadly been left more vulnerable because of the pandemic, some positive developments have emerged, most notably Ontario’s move to waive a three-month waiting period for access to public health for immigrant newcomers. Others include a pay increase for frontline workers, and online service delivery from some settlement agencies, helping improve access to necessary resources such as child care.

Click here to read the complete report, COVID-19, Migration and the Canadian Immigration System: Dimensions, Impact and Resilience.