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Journal article

Central American Temporary Foreign Workers in Québec Smalltowns: A Portrait of Community Response

Date

2016

Authors

Jill Hanley, Sylvie Gravel, Stephanie Bernstein, Francisco Villanueva, and Daniel Crespo Villarreal

Abstract

Recent years have seen an explosion of the recruitment of Central American Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) by agricultural operations and other businesses in Québec small towns. The mobility of one group (the TFWs) underpins the ability of another group (Québec small-town residents) to avoid migration by contributing to the continued viability of economic activity in Québec small towns. In this article, we examine the “fragile entanglement of physical movement, representations, and practices” (Cresswell, 2010, p.18) as evidenced in Central American TFWs’ experiences interacting with local community members as well as the response of local businesses, local social and community services, and local churches to the presence of TFWs in their communities. Drawing on data from focus groups with TFWs (n=31) and interviews with employers (n=17), advocates (n=13) and government actors (n=10), we come to the conclusion that Québec small towns have been transformed by the cyclical mobility of TFWs but that the possibilities for diminishing the unequal power relationships and allowing for long-term integration and community development are limited so long as both the TFW Program continues to constrain the social, employment and geographic mobility of TFWs and Québec refuses to consider all occupational levels for permanent residency under the Québec Experience Program.

Journal title

Journal of Rural and Community Development

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Keywords

Temporary Foreign Workers, Guatemala, mobility, community development, integration

Economic sectors

Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations - general

Content types

Policy analysis and Current Policy

Target groups

(Im)migrants workers and Researchers

Geographical focuses

Quebec

Spheres of activity

Agriculture

Languages

English