Paved with Good Intentions: Canada's Refugee Destining Policy and Paths of Secondary Migration

Abstract

This article describes the results of a qualitative investigation completed for Citizenship and Immigration Canada into reasons for secondary migration of government-assisted refugees (GAR s) in Ontario. Over 100 officials, settlement counsellors, and GARs were interviewed about the migration process, beginning with overseas destining through arrival in Canada to the decision to relocate to Onta rio. The study revealed contradictions in destining policy and practice. The findings suggest the import ance of ensuring that refugees are able to make informed choices about the communities to which they are sent, and that they have meaningful social support in those receiving communities. This research on immigrant mobili ty has policy implications for the current discussions about geographic dispersal of immigrants and settlem ent outcomes.