Poverty and Inequality : Migration

Events

Migrants' Remittances From Canada: Developmental Impact and Potential, Aylmer, Quebec, December 17, 2003

Carlo Dade, FOCAL senior policy advisor, presented an overview of programmatic and policy issues for governments in working with remittances and transnational communities at a conference sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Entitled "Migrants' Remittances from Canada: Developmental Impact and Potential", this conference was the first event to examine the role and potential of the Canadian government to strengthen the developmental impact of remittances and improve transfer systems. The conference featured presentations on preliminary research done by CIDA on remittance flows from Canada and on the macro-economic issues and global perspective provided by a representative from the World Bank. A second panel featured presentations on remittance activities and programs in Latin America by the World Council of Credit Unions and the Bank of Nova Scotia. Concluding remarks were provided by Brian Grant (director general of the Strategic Policy and Partnership Branch of CIC) who noted that the issues of worker remittances and ties to their countries of origin were quickly becoming of critical importance for the Canadian government. Also, in attendance were Sharon O'Regan and Claudia Paguaga of FOCAL, government officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations, research centres, commercial banks, remitting companies and international institutions. You may access here FOCAL's PowerPpoint presentation entitled Programatic and Policy Issues in Remittances, Transnationalism and Diaspora Outreach.

Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations About Canada's Seasonal Agricultural Worker's Program, November 21-22, 2003

Claudia Paguaga represented FOCAL at the "Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations about Canada's Seasonal Agricultural Worker's Program" workshop organized by the North-South Institute (NSI). The discussions during the two-day event, which gathered researchers, analysts, the employer community and representatives of liaison services, evolved around the best practices of the seasonal worker's program in Mexico and the Caribbean. Various recommendations were made regarding the assistance (or lack there of) provided to workers by the employers, the consulate and liaison officials, training courses and the recruitment process in general. The overall conclusion of the event was that even though certain aspects need to be improved, season agricultural programs provide a positive alternative for both workers (sending countries) and employers (receiving countries) and thus they should be promoted.

Conference on International Migration in the Americas: Emerging Issues, Toronto, September 19-20, 2003

The Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC) and the Latin American Faculty of Social Science (FLACSO-Dominican Republic) organized this conference. The discussions during the two-day event, which gathered mostly academics and a few analysts and students working in the area of international migration, evolved around the issues of economic integration, development and migration, immigration policies and cultural identities. Though various conclusions were identified from the different issues that were discussed, the overall conclusion of the event was that there is still a lot to do with regards to formulating effective policy options for migrants in the Americas.

Remittances as a Development Tool in Central America: Empowering Micro-finance, Guatemala City, September 3, 2003

Hosted by the Multilateral Investment Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank, the conference discussed the possibilities and benefits of linking remittances with the region's micro-finance sector. Discussions centred on remittances and their contribution to the economy of the region; remittance recipients in Guatemala, EL Salvador and Honduras; micro-finances and remittances; connectivity and communities; hometown associations and local rural development; and the perspectives of the multilateral investment fund.

Family Remittances and Their Potential for Community Development in Guatemala, Guatemala City, August 29, 2003

Hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the workshop focussed on remittances, development and options for Central America; the impact of family remittances in Mexico and C.A. at the beginning of the XXI century; community funds and joint investment systems between villagers and migrants in Guatemala; quantifying the incidence of family remittances on Guatemala's economy; remittances for development - a medium term vision - and sharing the results of the national survey on family remittances 2003.

Meeting of the Regional Consultation Group on Migration (RCGM) and the VIII Regional Conference on Migration (RCM), Cancun, Mexico, May 24-31, 2003

Mexico hosted this meeting, which will pass the Directorship to Panama later on during this year. Vice ministers from Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic attended as well as US senior government officials. The goal of the meeting was to analyze distinct aspects of the migration phenomenon within the region. Participants agreed that the Puebla Process should continue as a formal basis for dialogue on the protection of the human rights of migrants; to intensify the cooperation between countries to combat the illicit trafficking of migrants; and to reinforce active coordination of authorities to guarantee the repatriation of migrants in a secure and dignified manner. Vice ministers met with Civil Society groups twice during the formal proceedings allowing for the exchange of information on issues of relevance to the Non Governmental Organizations. You may access here the Declaration and the Decisions of the Vice Ministers (available also in Spanish). Sharon O'Regan represented FOCAL at this event.

The Politics of Transnational Ties: Implications for Research, Communities, Policy, Toronto, March 7-8, 2003

The Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC) of York University held a workshop to share information on research and policy on the topic of transnational migration. The workshop brought together scholars, community group leaders and policy organizations to explore transnational linkages and activities among Asian, Latin Americana and Caribbean Canadians. Panellists and participants gathered to discuss and reflect on issues and concepts regarding migration such as: transnational labour markets; issues and politics based on social movements; social justice; environmental initiatives; and transnational religion based on social movements. The workshop goal was to bridge the gap between research and policy.

FOCAL was an active sponsor in this event and will soon be publishing a policy paper on the issue of Migration and Remittances. A full report will be available here by the end of March 2003.

2002

FOCAL's Speaker Series on Transnational Migration, November 7, 2002

FOCAL organized a speaker series event on migration with Patricia Ladolt, professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto; and Rudi Robinson, senior researcher in International Development at the North-South Institute (NSI), in Ottawa. This meeting was entitled “Transnational Migration: Causes, Consequences and Strategies for the Incorporation of Central American and Caribbean Immigrants”. This was the third event that FOCAL organizes under its program on Hemispheric Integration and transnationalism in the Americas.

Information Session on the Socio-political Impacts of Migration in the Caribbean, Montreal, July 12, 2002

FOCAL and the Comité québécois pour la reconnaissance des droits des travailleurs haïtiens en République dominicaine (CQRDTHRD) held an information session on the socio-political impacts of migration in the Caribbean. The guest speaker was Dr Ruben Silié, Director of the Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) in the Dominican Republic.

Dr. Silié 's referred to past and current migration trends in the Caribbean as well as to the need to regulate the illegal status of migrants in order to eliminate the perpetual political tensions, abuse and exploitation among and within Caribbean States. The exposé was followed by discussion questions, which focused on the current situation of Haitian immigrants in the Dominican Republic.

Information Session on the Situation of Haitian Migrants in the Dominican Republic, July 11, 2002

FOCAL hosted Dr. Rubén Silié, Director of the Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) in the Dominican Republic, to address the issue of Haitian migration into the Dominican Republic in an information session held in Ottawa. The event gathered more than 20 participants, including H.E. Eduardo Fernández, Ambassor of the Dominican Republic to Canada; H.E. Renaud Bernardin, Ambassador of Haiti to Canada; John Graham, Chair of FOCAL’s Board of Directors; government officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), the Canadian Agency for International Development (CIDA), and representatives of local NGOs, such as Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD) and the Comité québécois pour la reconnaissance des droits des travailleurs haïtiens en République dominicaine (CQRDTHRD).

During the two-hour event, Dr. Silié discussed the situation of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic from a historical perspective bringing the audience up to date about current political developments on this island shared by two nations.

Annual Meeting of the Regional Civil Society organizations for Migratory Affairs (Red Regional de Organizaciones Civiles para las Migraciones - RROCM), Guatemala, May 26-30, 2002

Sharon O'Regan represented FOCAL at this event, which took place concurrent with the annual Ministerial Puebla Process Meeting. The principal objectives of the conference were to discuss the approval of a document on migratory guidelines and to determine if the guidelines should be submitted for final acceptance by the regional government representatives. The priority for the RROCM was to review existing procedures and to evaluate the promotion of specific projects. The RROCM was able to discuss strategic plans including the regional operation plan for advancing migration projects. The sharing of information and knowledge was also a priority for the conference. The RROCM took the opportunity to deliver their interventions on specific issues of concern to Ministerial representatives from the region.

FOCAL's Speaker Series with Dr. Manuel Orozco, March 20, 2002

FOCAL, with the collaboration of Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD), hosted Dr. Manuel Orozco, Project Director for the Central American Division at the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington, D.C., for the first of a series of events on migration. This event titled "Assessing the impact of remittances on economic development in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean" took place at the National Press Club in Ottawa. Dr Orozco's presentation, which explained the dynamics and trends of Latino immigrants into the global economy, can be accessed here. Also available is his policy paper on "Globalization and Migration: the Impact of Family Remittances in Latin America" (PDF format).

Roundtable “Remittances as a Development Tool”, Washington, D.C., February 26, 2002

The roundtable organised by the Inter-American Development Bank, brought together private and public stakeholders to discuss the different forms of remittances and their development impact on receiving countries. Examples from Mexico and the Dominican Republic were presented. Eric Verreault attended on behalf of FOCAL.

Migración, Desarrollo Regional y Potencial Productivo de las Remesas Guadalajara, Mexico, February 14-15, 2002

This Regional Conference was organized the National Migration Institute together with the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores and the Secretaría de Gobernación. Claudia Paguaga represented FOCAL at this event, which included a range of experts in the field of remittances. Though the two-day event predominantly focused on the migratory experience in Mexico; the cases of El Salvador, Guatemala and Greece were also examined.