Thesis Defence: Canada’s Response to the Venezuelan Humanitarian Crisis: Strengths and limitations of Canada’s policies to help Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees

Ricardo Villegas Solano, supervised by Dr. James Rochlin, will defend their thesis titled “Canada’s Response to the Venezuelan Humanitarian Crisis:
Strengths and limitations of Canada’s policies to help Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies – Global Studies.

An abstract for Ricardo Villegas Solano’s thesis is included below.

Defences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in person defences.

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Abstract

Canada’s Liberal government has worked alongside the international community to respond to the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis per proclaimed domestic values and international objectives. The project examines the domestic and international factors that shape Canada’s response to Venezuela’s political and economic crisis and the exodus of approximately 7.7 million migrants and refugees. It argues that Ottawa’s proclaimed internationalist foreign policy serves as a tool to mask the factors guiding the formation and implementation of Canada’s response to the crisis, including its economic and security dependence on the U.S. and shared ideological interests with Washington. It also suggests that the limited capacity of the Venezuelan community in Canada restricts their ability to influence policy formation in Ottawa. The study uses information from eighteen semi-structured interviews with government officials, non-governmental organizations, academics, and Venezuelan community leaders in Canada to uncover the rationale behind the government’s response. In addition, the project draws from the Venezuelan experience to offer a critical analysis of Canada’s immigration policies, especially its refugee protection program, to examine the characteristics underpinning the program. The study challenges Canada’s global humanitarian reputation by investigating the formation and implementation of policies that constrain the Venezuelan refugee crisis within a specified zone. It offers an opportunity to assess Canada’s foreign policy, immigration policies, and role in the global system.