Canadian immigration policies: Implications for discrimination and biases in tourism employment

Canada has long been recognized as an immigrant-friendly nation that is committed to welcoming people from all over the world. However, many immigrants, particularly racialized and ethnic minorities, regardless of social capital, skill sets, and experience, find themselves increasingly concentrated in low-paying and low-skilled jobs. Discrimination and bias, either from individuals or institutions, are not uncommon and have impacted every stratum of tourism stakeholders. Furthermore, discriminatory practices have long been documented within the sector including racial segregation between different job functions, wage gaps, and insufficient advancement opportunities for minorities. This chapter explores how Canada’s immigration policy may be working (intentionally or unintentionally) to supply racialized immigrants, many of whom are highly educated and professionally trained, as cheap labour to the Canadian labour market where they face de-skilling, discrimination, and exploitation in various sectors, including hospitality and tourism.