Integral to establishing newcomers in Canada are the settlement services

May 11, 2023 — Ottawa —

Integral to establishing newcomers in Canada are the settlement services. They equip newcomers with vital information and assistance to make well-informed decisions concerning their fresh start in Canada. This will aid in their seamless integration into their new communities and enhancing their job search efficiency.

Marie-France Lalonde, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, unveiled today a funding extension exceeding $65 million. This extension will be disseminated among service provider organizations nationwide. It will ensure the continued provision of vital settlement services. These include pre-arrival services, assistance for racialized immigrant women, and French language training for newcomers in Francophone minority communities.

During today’s funding announcement, Parliamentary Secretary Lalonde revealed that the YMCA of the National Capital Region is among the beneficiaries. With an allocation of over $1.2 million, the YMCA can continue providing essential pre-arrival services to incoming immigrants.

This funding extension is a commitment to supporting service provider organizations in delivering services to newcomers even before they set foot in Canada. The YMCA extends a variety of services overseas, accessible both online and in-person. Pre-arrival service providers enable newcomers to tap into essential resources prior to their arrival in Canada. Such as information about the Canadian workplace, employment counselling, and soft skills development.

The pre-arrival services program by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada aims to optimize the economic and social integration of newcomers by:

1. Establishing direct connections between clients and the services they require through a simplified, user-friendly process.
2. Encouraging newcomers to seek recognition for their foreign credentials prior to their arrival, if necessary.
3. Linking clients to federal and provincial settlement services within Canada.

Investments in pre-arrival services represent investments in newcomers and their families who are joining Canada’s diverse communities. These investments foster their growth and simultaneously strengthen Canada’s economy. Detailed information on individual funding for service provider organizations will be disclosed in the weeks to come.

Remarks

Marie-France Lalonde, emphasized, “Pre-arrival services are vital to successful integration. They equip newcomers with the tools to make informed decisions about their future in Canada, thereby facilitating their contribution to the economy. This investment will enable Canada to continue addressing the needs of newcomers worldwide.”

Bob Gallagher, President and CEO of the YMCA of the National Capital Region, expressed, “Relocating to a new country is likely one of the most significant decisions one can make. We are gratified by the substantial investment from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada into pre-arrival services. Investments of this kind empower the YMCA to keep providing specialized information and orientation about skilled trades, engineering and construction sectors, thus easing individuals’ transition to Canada.”

Fast Facts

1. The 15 service provider organizations receiving funding extensions for pre-arrival services cater to clients in their home countries. They are based in British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and abroad.
2. Canada has been funding pre-arrival services since 1998. Originally intended for refugees, these services were extended to other immigrant categories in 2001.
3. In 2019, a tailored language training initiative was launched for Francophone newcomers in Francophone minority communities. Thus enhancing the Francophone Integration Pathway and offering French or English training.
4. In December 2022, the Canadian government pledged up to $5.8 million in renewed funding through 2025 for ten projects under the Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot. This funding is in addition to the $15 million over two years allocated in the 2021 Budget to extend support for this pilot.

Integral to establishing newcomers in Canada are the settlement services, if you would like to read more about similar topics, check out our blog posts!