Canadian sanctuary policies in context

Abstract

Since 2013, seven Canadian cities have developed sanctuary policies: Vancouver, Edmonton, London, Hamilton, Toronto, Ajax and Montreal. Comparing policy design characteristics, this article points to converging features of these interventions in Canada: a focus on information provision and access as well as a representation of the city as an inclusive and progressive space. The distinctive characteristics of these interventions, as compared to the sanctuary policies in other national contexts, point to the need to consider alternative contextual drivers of local involvement toward this issue: response to long periods of policy devolution as well as use of sanctuary to bolster urban competitiveness and legitimacy for local governments.