Drawing on extensive archival research, case studies, and interviews, Professor Clark-Kazak of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs argues that ageism is not incidental but deeply embedded in the structure of Canadian immigration policy. Her work examines how both historical legislation and current frameworks—including the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its regulations—rely on rigid interpretations of chronological age and family relationships. These criteria, she shows, are often used systematically yet arbitrarily to exclude certain groups and limit their rights.
The book explores key areas of immigration policy, including the comprehensive ranking (points) system, immigration detention, and refugee protection. Through these case studies, Clark-Kazak demonstrates that discrimination based on age and family status cuts across multiple immigration streams, affecting applicants in diverse and intersecting ways.
Importantly, the analysis goes beyond identifying inequities. Clark-Kazak contends that age-based discrimination is not only ethically and legally problematic, but also fundamentally ineffective. Immigration policies that fail to account for the realities of the life course—such as aging and evolving family dynamics—risk undermining their own objectives.
By highlighting how immigrants’ lives unfold over time and within relationships, the book calls for a rethinking of how age and family status are treated in policy design. Clark-Kazak ultimately frames her work as an urgent appeal to align Canadian immigration practices with the principles of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and international legal standards.
Age and Immigration Policy in Canada: Toward an Equitable Approach contributes a critical perspective to ongoing debates about fairness, inclusion, and human rights in Canada’s immigration system.