Why Are People Getting Deported During a Pandemic? 

Season 1, Episode 11

When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, Canada announced the suspension of most deportations. Then, despite its own advisories warning that international travel during a pandemic is a major risk, Ottawa lifted its moratorium on deportations in late November 2020. The federal government has since deported thousands of people during the pandemic.

Isabel Macdonald is an independent journalist and researcher living in Montreal. She spoke with public health experts and asylum seekers to examine why these deportations are happening and the added dangers of doing them in the time of COVID-19.

Macdonald talks about how Canada justifies deporting people during a pandemic. 

She then goes over the numbers of how many people are getting deported and explains why this data is difficult to access. 

Macdonald then breaks down the statistics to explain which nationalities have been deported most during the pandemic.  

Then she goes into the case of Jatinder Singh, a truck driver who was deported to India during the pandemic. 

She explains why Singh had been seeking asylum in Canada in the first place and how difficult it can be to claim asylum in Canada generally.  

And then she discusses the harm done by deporting people during a pandemic.

Macdonald then shares what she is currently reading right now.

Finally, we check in on what we're talking about this week at The Walrus.

• Why Is Canada Deporting Front Line Workers in the Middle of a Pandemic? 

• I Am the Type of Man Who Gets into Fist Fights—and Likes It
• Careers at The Walrus
• Seeing Red  
• 
  

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Hosted and produced by Sheena Rossiter and Angela Misri, with editing by Sheena Rossiter

Music provided by Audio Jungle. Our theme song is “This Podcast Theme” by Inplus Music Additional music: “Stay Cool” by Loops Lab; “Podcast Intro” by Inplus Music; “Leaving Home,” “With Regards,” and “Inspired” by Kevin MacLeod, provided by Film Music; and “Skydancer” by Scandinavian. 

With Regards by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4636-with-regards

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Inspired by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Leaving Home by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4708-leaving-home

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license