Canada and Brazil as transitory destinations in multinational migration trajectories

Principal Investigator: Luciara Nardon, International Business
Project Title: Understanding Multinational Migrations in the Americas
Funder: International Research Seed Grant
International Co-Investigator: Camila Bruning, Psychology
Duration: 2 years

Migration research has traditionally focused on movement from a country of origin to a destination country and on immigrants’ experiences within the receiving nation. However, this singular focus does not accurately reflect the lived experiences of immigrants in today’s globalized world. Increasingly, individuals are embarking on “multinational migrations”–migrant trajectories involving multiple international moves. This project will explore the causes and impact of multinational migrations in the lives of migrants in Brazil and Canada.

Both of these countries serve as transitory destinations for migrant movement within the Americas, albeit for different reasons: whereas many immigrants to Brazil see the country as a stepping stone along a path to North America, immigrants who originally viewed Canada as their ultimate destination are leaving due to acute housing shortages and rising living costs. A multi-country perspective will allow the researchers to identify how infrastructure, policy, and practice collectively encourage or reduce the need for multinational migration.

Particular project goals include (1) a mapping of the immigrant service ecosystems in Brazil and Canada; (2) identification of structures that increase the likelihood of multiple migrations; (3) stakeholder engagement to propose ways to increase workplace and social inclusion of immigrants; and (4) analysis of the ways multinational migration impacts migrant identity and well-being.