Table II.

Recommendations for policy and rationale for their implementation

Policy Recommendation	Rationale
❖ Include undocumented migrants in census data	To acknowledge the existence of this population is the first step for policy and program planning. Accurate population estimates and demographic information are necessary for effective services.
❖ Prioritize inclusion in all policies	Health, safety, and education are fundamental human rights, and should be granted regardless of immigration status.
❖ Re-examine the language and provisions within Canadian immigration policies that are enmeshed in current exploitative relations and gender inequality and create alternatives for those presently working in Canada	There are sectors in the economy highly dependent on the undocumented workforce (e.g. construction and hospitality sectors) but no system to render such workers part of the official Canadian workforce. Also, sexist subtexts persist in immigration policy (e.g. sponsorship issues), increasing the vulnerability of women.
❖ Grant full citizenship rights to Canadian born children, regardless of their parents’ status	All Canadian citizens have a legal right to obtain benefits, and this entitlement should not be delayed or compromised in any manner due to the immigration status of third parties.
❖ Increase human and financial resource allocation for social and health services that serve non-status populations	Constrained resources limit the quality and extent of service provision and are detrimental to providers serving this population. Additional resources would improve the comprehensiveness of services, increase health status and alleviate human suffering