The Canadian government’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made a significant announcement, revealing its plans to allocate over $65 million in funding extensions to service provider organizations across the country.
This investment aims to bolster settlement services for immigrants, covering pre-arrival services, support for racialized newcomer women, and language training for newcomers in Francophone minority communities.
Recognizing the Importance of Settlement Services for Newcomer Success
During the announcement, IRCC emphasized the pivotal role that settlement services play in helping newcomers thrive in Canada. These services provide immigrants with crucial information and support, enabling them to make informed decisions about their new lives in Canada both before and after their arrival.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Immigration Minister, Marie-France Lalonde, underlined the significance of providing services to newcomers prior to their arrival, emphasizing that this investment would enable Canada to continue supporting the needs of immigrants worldwide.
Study Highlights Positive Impact of Settlement Services
In 2021, IRCC conducted a comprehensive study to assess the impact of settlement services on newcomer outcomes. The study yielded promising results, revealing that 95% of immigrants who received settlement services found them to be highly valuable.
Furthermore, 78% of those who availed themselves of employment services reported that it helped them acquire the necessary skills, knowledge, and connections to successfully navigate the Canadian labour market.
Maximizing Social and Economic Integration through Pre-Arrival Services
IRCC’s pre-arrival services programs play a vital role in facilitating the social and economic integration of new immigrants. These programs aim to:
- Directly connect clients with the information and services they need, ensuring a streamlined and user-friendly process.
- Encourage newcomers to apply for recognition of their foreign credentials, if required, before their arrival.
- Establish links between clients and federal and provincial settlement services across Canada.
YMCA of the National Capital Region Receives $1.2 Million for Pre-Arrival Services
As part of the investment, the YMCA of the National Capital Region has been allocated over $1.2 million to continue offering essential pre-arrival services to newcomers.
Bob Gallagher, President and CEO of the YMCA of the National Capital Region, expressed his gratitude for the investment, highlighting the YMCA’s commitment to providing specialized information and orientation on skilled trades, engineering, and construction sectors. These services are designed to facilitate newcomers’ transition to Canada.
Easy Access to Settlement Services
Settlement services are readily available at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels and are completely free of charge. These services encompass a wide range of support, including help with daily life, job search assistance, citizenship test preparation, language training and assessments, job-specific language training, specialized services for refugees and women, and mentorship opportunities for newcomers.
To facilitate easy access to the most relevant services, IRCC has developed “Compass to Connect,” a comprehensive tool that consolidates settlement services and provides a filtered search by postal code to identify nearby available services. The tool also highlights specific programs tailored for women, seniors, youth, and 2SLGBTQi+ individuals.
Additionally, newcomers can reach out directly to municipal and provincial settlement service providers in their respective areas. Conducting a simple search for settlement services in their locality will help them connect with the appropriate resources.
Settlement Services: Exclusively for Permanent Residents, Protected Persons, and Some Temporary Residents
It is essential to note that settlement services in Canada are exclusively available to permanent residents, protected persons, and certain temporary residents. The Canadian government has a separate settlement program called the Resettlement Assistance Program, specifically tailored to the needs of refugees.
With this substantial investment in settlement services, Canada reaffirms its commitment to providing comprehensive support and resources to immigrants, further strengthening their integration and success in the country.
(Source: CIC News, edited by travelobiz staff)
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