UVic’s Borders in Globalization (BIG) research program in partnership with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and with funding from the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission, hosted a one-day workshop to explore specific policy-relevant questions on Canadian borders. The workshop had approximately 10 students present and discuss research papers with experts, scholars and border officials. This workshop provided an outstanding opportunity to conduct and present targeted research to the policy-makers who will use the knowledge, in addition to professional development and networking opportunities.
The research papers covered three topics:
Topic 1: Asylum. What border policy reforms have been introduced in EU Member States over the past 5 years in response to the significant influx of asylum seekers in Europe? For example, reforms to entry / exit controls, identity management, public safety, security screening, and immigration enforcement measures.
Topic 2: Immigration Enforcement. Propose an analytical framework for assessing the gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) considerations with respect to developing immigration enforcement policy, including detention and removal.
Topic 3: Screening. Which countries, over the past 15 years, have had governments that have been involved in terrorism, systematic or gross human rights violations, a war crime, crimes against humanity or genocide? Compare and contrast Canada’s designated regime list with similar measures in place in other countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and/or EU Member States.
