(In)Essential Bordering: Canada, COVID, and Mobility

Abstract The global spread of Covid-19 not only disrupted transborder movement. In many (if most) states, stasis and closure became the default norm at within borders. This, in turn, generated exceptions organised around an idea ‘essential’ entry. category was produced, revised, represented through interaction pandemic-driven exigencies nationally-specific articulations legal, political, economic priorities constraints play. To understand how admission into Canada certain people accepted as legally, economically, and/or politically essential, one must take account Canada’s character a settler society its integration with United States. Other relevant considerations are growing dependence on migrant workers to subsidise cost food production for Canadian agribusiness, international students subsidize higher education nationals.