International migration flows and patterns shaped by the determinants, processes and outcomes of social, political, and economic conditions have led to important transformation of society and human geographies. As Canada continues to effectively manage its immigration system and uphold its commitment to international refugee protection and resettlement, it is critical for Canada to do so with an understanding of the changing context of immigration, which are reinforced by shifting policies and their impact, in our contemporary society. In this thesis, the migration trajectory of three groups of newcomers to Canada; international students, Syrian refugees, and refugee youth, are explored by examining policies and conditions that can create group risks and vulnerabilities in immigration, settlement, and integration as groups transition to life in Canada after arrival. As suggested by Castle (2010) migration researchers can advance the field by embedding their work in broader theories of social change to facilitate understanding of the complexity, interconnectedness, variability, contextuality, and multi-mediation of migratory process in the context of rapid change. This thesis employs a geographical lens of place to deepen understanding of processes and outcomes in our contemporary society, while responding to these evolving contexts in one mid-size, post-industrial Canadian city. In three separate research, this thesis examines: 1) economic immigration flow under Express Entry in 2015 and 2016; 2) the role of the voluntary sector during the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Initiative in Hamilton, Ontario in 2016; and 3) the place of school-based settlement in bridging and brokering school-based mental health for newcomer youth. / Thesis / Doctor of Science (PhD) / As Canada continues to effectively manage its immigration system and uphold its commitment to international refugee protection and resettlement, it is critical for Canada to do so with an understanding of the changing context of immigration in our contemporary society. In this thesis, I examine the migration trajectory of three groups of newcomers to Canada; international students, Syrian refugees, and refugee youth, by asking two overarching research questions that explores policies and conditions that can create group risks and vulnerabilities in immigration, settlement, and integration. This thesis seeks to understand how policies could be addressed to improve successful outcome for newcomers. This thesis employs a geographical lens of place to deepen understanding of processes and outcomes in our contemporary society, while responding to these evolving contexts in one mid-size, post-industrial Canadian city.

L'économie mondiale actuelle est marquée par une forte rivalité entre États. Ces derniers se doivent ainsi d'être le plus compétitifs possible. Dans ce contexte, l'immigration économique a indéniablement un rôle à jouer. Elle peut en effet donner au marché du travail le personnel dont il a besoin, que ce soit en matière de travailleurs hautement qualifiés ou uniquement pour faire face à des pénuries de main-d'œuvre. Par conséquent, l'Union européenne et ses États membres se doivent d'agir afin de se montrer attractifs en matière de recrutement de travailleurs extracommunautaires. À la suite du livre vert de 2005 sur la gestion des migrations économiques, l'Union a fait le choix de se focaliser sur des directives sectorielles relatives à l'admission de certaines catégories de travailleurs extracommunautaires. La directive majeure qui en est ressortie est celle relative à l'admission des travailleurs hautement qualifiés. En agissant de la sorte, l'Union a souhaité rivaliser avec les autres pôles d'attraction de main-d'œuvre que sont notamment les États-Unis. Dans cette perspective, l'Union a-t-elle réussi son pari ? En outre, la question de l'immigration économique renvoie immanquablement au statut des travailleurs extracommunautaires. Ces deux notions sont d'ailleurs étroitement liées. Il ne saurait être question de statut s'il n'y avait pas eu immigration. À l'inverse, il ne pourrait y avoir d'immigration en l'absence d'un statut avantageux pour le migrant. Les États souhaitant développer l'immigration du travail se doivent ainsi de garantir un ensemble de droits protecteurs aux travailleurs extracommunautaires. Le statut revêt en effet une importance capitale dans le choix d'une destination. Partant de là, quel est le statut réservé aux travailleurs extracommunautaires au sein de l'Union ? / The present global economy is characterized by a strong rivalry between States. Therefore they have to be the most competitive they can be. In this context, there is no doubt the economic immigration has a role to play. It can indeed give needed workers to the labour market, whether concerning highly qualified workers or only in order to answer labour shortage. As a result, European Union and its Members States must behave in order to seem attractive regarding the recruitment of extra community workers. After the 2005 green paper on an approach to managing economic migration, the Union chose to focus itself on sectoral directives regarding the admission of some categories of extra community workers. The major directive that came out is the one dealing with the admission of highly skilled workers. By doing so, the Union wished to compete with the other attracting labour poles such as the United States for example. From this point of view, did the Union succeed ? Furthermore, the question of economic immigration inevitably refers to the extra community workers status. In fact, these two notions are highly connected. We would not talk about status if there were no immigration. On the contrary, immigration could not be possible without a favourable status for the migrant. The States which want to encourage economic immigration must guarantee a package of rights protecting extra community workers. This is why the status is really important in choosing a destination. Hence, what is the status reserved for extra community workers within the Union ?

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