Strategic Outcomes and Program Alignment Architecture (in effect April 1, 2011)

Program Activity 3.1 – Settlement and Integration of Newcomers

Program Description
In accordance with the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, the Employment Equity Act, the Official Languages Act, the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the settlement and integration program develops policies and programs to support the settlement, resettlement, adaptation and integration of newcomers into Canadian society focused on information/orientation, language/skills, labour market access and welcoming communities. All permanent residents are eligible for settlement and integration programs. Programming is delivered by third parties (including provincial and municipal governments, school boards and post-secondary institutions, settlement service organizations and other non-governmental actors, and the private sector) across the country. However, accountability for expended funds and attaining outcomes remains with Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Accordingly, the focus of the integration programs at CIC is on operationalizing the “two way street approach” reflected in this suite of legislation through assisting individuals to become active, connected and productive citizens and through working with communities and Canadian institutions to aid individuals in accomplishing this objective. These programs include the settlement program, the multiculturalism program, the refugee resettlement assistance program, the foreign credential referral office, the citizenship program, and the immigration loan program.

Working with a wide range of societal actors including other federal partners, other orders of government, voluntary sector and community partners, employers, school boards and other stakeholders, these programs seek to minimize income disparities and strengthen social integration by assisting in the removal of barriers and enabling individuals to participate in the labour market, encouraging social and cultural connections amongst people of different backgrounds and identities, encouraging active civic participation, and inculcating a sense of the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship and the value of diversity.

Foreign Credentials Referral Office

The Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) was established to help internationally trained individuals (ITIs) receive the information, path-finding and referral services to have their credentials assessed as quickly as possible so they can find work faster in the fields for which they have been trained. In Canada, Service Canada delivers in-person and telephone services on behalf of the FCRO. Information on foreign credential recognition (FCR) is also available through the FCRO website to prospective immigrants overseas.

The FCRO works with federal, provincial and territorial partners, and national associations, recognition bodies and employers to strengthen FCR processes across Canada. As the lead department on the pre-arrival component of the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, CIC, through the FCRO, assumed responsibility for the current Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) – funded Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP) in October 2010. The CIIP helps immigrants prepare for integration into the Canadian labour market while they are still in their countries of origin.

Settlement

Settlement refers to the short-term transitional issues faced by newcomers moving to Canada, while integration is an ongoing process of mutual accommodation between an individual and society. CIC’s Settlement Program assists immigrants and refugees to overcome barriers specific to the newcomer experience (such as a lack of official language skills and limited knowledge of Canada) so that they can participate in social, cultural, civic and economic life in Canada. The program focuses on four areas: information and orientation; language training and skills development; labour market access; and welcoming communities. In addition, the settlement program also supports the settlement of francophone immigrants into official language minority communities as well as providing specialized support to refugees through the Refugee Resettlement Assistance Program and to immigrants through the Immigrant Loan Program.

Most services are designed and delivered by service provider organizations, but certain services (such as some information provision) are delivered directly by CIC, and some services are delivered overseas. British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec design, deliver, and administer their own settlement services. However, accountability for expended funds and attaining outcomes remains with Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

i) Information and Orientation

The provision of settlement-related information and orientation is fundamental to the successful settlement of newcomers in Canada. Tools are provided for individuals to enable them to take charge of their own settlement and integration pathways and to effectively navigate Canadian systems (e.g. acquiring a social insurance number card, drivers’ license, or health card). Increasingly these tools and information are available prior to arrival to enable newcomers to plan more effectively. This program has two interrelated objectives: First, it aims to provide newcomers with relevant, accurate, consistent, and timely information that is needed to make informed settlement decisions and access settlement services. Second, it seeks to promote a contextual understanding of life in Canada, including laws, rights, and the democratic system. This programming is delivered in part by CIC itself and in partnership with a range of other government departments, other governments, and other partners including both national and international service provider organizations.

ii) Language Training and Skills Development

The ability of newcomers to communicate in one of Canada’s official languages has long been recognized as key to both the initial settlement and the longer term integration of immigrants. Language learning services are intended to help newcomers develop sufficient linguistic communication skills (including literacy) and other skills (including soft skills) in different contexts (e.g. employment related and social) to enable newcomers to function in Canadian society and contribute to the economy. The program funds service provider organizations to design and deliver various language learning services for newcomers, including language assessment and official language instruction.

iii) Labour Market Access

The majority of newcomers who come to Canada intend to enter the labour force, and for most adults it is their primary objective upon arrival. Many face difficulties integrating into the Canadian labour market. These difficulties include individual and systemic barriers such as foreign credential recognition, lack of Canadian experience, lack of knowledge of workplace culture and/or discrimination. In addition, employers face barriers including knowing how to integrate newcomers into their labour force. Labour market services are intended to address these barriers and equip newcomers with the skills, information and support they need to enter into the labour market and contribute to the economy. Labour market participation also provides opportunities to practice language skills and to connect with other Canadians. Labour market services include services such as job search skills, networking, internships, mentorships, and/or work placements. This programming is delivered by a range of partners including service provider organizations, labour market organizations like chambers of commerce and employers themselves in some cases.

iv) Welcoming Communities

While language and skills, information and orientation, and labour market access programming are focused on newcomers, welcoming communities balances this focus by increasing the capacity of Canadian communities to value and facilitate the contribution of newcomers. The Community Connections stream of the Settlement Program works with mainstream organizations to address newcomer needs (e.g. Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS), Library Partnerships for Settlement (LPS) or Community Health Centres); Supports welcoming, safe and inclusive spaces where newcomers can access information, services and other public assets (e.g. Welcome Centres); enables local stakeholders to collaboratively develop plans, strategies and tools (e.g. Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) or the Toolkit for Smaller Centres); communicates best practices and shares information and expertise; and connects vulnerable groups with their Canadian-born counterparts and established support networks (e.g. mentoring, connecting parents with young children to early childhood development networks, newcomer seniors to seniors networks, entrepreneurs to business networks etc.). This programming is delivered through a range of partnerships including service provider organizations, public institutions such as libraries, school boards and community health centres, employers and other local partners.

v) Contribution to British Columbia for Settlement and Integration

Under a signed agreement between the Government of Canada and the province of British Columbia, CIC provides funding to the province for settlement and integration services that assist immigrants and refugees to overcome barriers specific to the newcomer experience. The province has primary responsibility for the design, administration and delivery of these settlement and integration services. British Columbia informs CIC of its activities through an annual service plan and annual report.

vi) Contribution to Manitoba for Settlement and Integration

Under a signed agreement between the Government of Canada and the province of Manitoba, CIC provides funding to the province for settlement and integration services that assist immigrants and refugees to overcome barriers specific to the newcomer experience. The province has primary responsibility for the design, administration and delivery of these settlement and integration services. Manitoba informs CIC of its activities through an annual service plan and annual report.

vii) Support for Official Language Minority Communities

CIC has an obligation to take positive measures to support the vitality of official language minority communities under Part VII of the Official Languages Act and this program is CIC’s contribution to the Government of Canada’s A Roadmap for Canada’s Linguistic Duality. It is a cross-section of promotion, recruitment and settlement activities to ensure the ability of these communities to retain newcomers and is focused on four sets of activities: coordination and research; joint activities with provinces and employers to recruit French-speaking immigrants in the targeted professions; developing and improving promotional events abroad and the resettlement of francophone refugees; and consolidating existing support networks and strengthening settlement services. The programming is delivered by a range of partners including other orders of government, employers and service provider organizations.

Grant to Québec

Quebec has the sole authority for administration of settlement and resettlement services for clients in that province. This program governs the transfer of funds under a federal-provincial agreement, the Canada-Quebec Accord. The monies are used by Quebec to develop, implement and manage delivery of settlement and resettlement services to newcomers. An objective of this Accord is, among other things, the preservation of Quebec’s demographic importance within Canada and the integration of immigrants to that province in a manner that respects the distinct identity of Quebec. Quebec has rights and responsibilities, set out in this Accord, with respect to the number of immigrants destined to Quebec and the selection, reception and integration of those immigrants.

Immigration Loan Program

The Immigration Loan Program is a statutory program under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. It ensures that some persons, otherwise unable to pay for the costs of transportation to Canada and medical admissibility exams, have access to a funding source. Assistance loans may also be approved for newcomers in need to cover initial settlement expenses such as rental and utilities deposits. The main target groups for the program are government-assisted refugees and privately sponsored refugees. These individuals have undergone extreme hardship and most often have few personal resources and are therefore unable to access traditional lending institutions. Canadian visa officers authorize the transportation and admissibility loans and the International Organization for Migration arranges travel and medical exams for refugees and pays these costs. CIC reimburses them and the refugee reimburses CIC. Assistance loans are authorized by in-Canada officers. The interest bearing loans are repayable in full and payment plans vary by the value of the loan and the recipients’ ability to repay while integrating.

Refugee Resettlement Assistance Program

The Refugee Resettlement Assistance Program for Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) provides immediate and essential support services and income support to assist in meeting refugees’ resettlement needs. In most cases GARs have undergone extreme hardship and may lack the social networks and the financial resources to assist in addressing the needs associated with becoming established in a new country. Local CIC officers administer and deliver monthly income support to GARs who cannot support themselves and their dependants (if applicable). Income support is available for up to 12 months, or until they become self-sufficient, whichever comes first. GARs also receive start up allowances for expenses related to furniture and other household supplies. Essential services are supported through contributions to service provider organizations (SPOs) in all provinces in Canada except Quebec, which delivers similar settlement services through the Canada-Quebec Accord. RAP services include, but are not limited to, reception services, assistance with accommodations, links to mandatory federal and provincial programs, life skills training, and orientation on financial and non-financial information.

Other CIC Programs and Societal Actors

The Settlement Program works in tandem with other CIC programs to achieve settlement success.

  • The Citizenship Program administers the acquisition and promotion of Canadian citizenship by developing, implementing, and applying legislation (Citizenship Act), regulations and policies.
  • The Multiculturalism Program focuses on building an integrated, socially cohesive society characterized by intercultural and interfaith understanding, civic memory and pride, and shared core democratic values as well as equal opportunity for Canadians of all origins.

Working with Federal Government Actors

CIC works collaboratively with other federal departments and agencies that deliver programs that contribute to immigrant settlement and long-term integration.

Provinces, Territories and Municipalities – A Shared Responsibility

Provinces and territories play a major role in providing a broad range of settlement services to newcomers. Under Section 95 of the Constitution Act (1867), immigration is a shared jurisdiction, although federal laws are paramount. Partnerships with provinces and territories in the provision of settlement services are arranged according to different governance structures.

  • In the province of Quebec, settlement services are governed by the 1991 Canada-Quebec Accord under which the federal government has devolved full fiscal, policy, and service delivery powers to the province.
  • In British Columbia and Manitoba, the federal government delegates design and delivery of settlement services with the goal of achieving comparable outcomes, but remains responsible for accountability and determining funding levels.
  • In all other provinces, under a centralized model, the federal government designs and delivers settlement services. In Ontario and Alberta, this has been complemented by arrangements under which both federal and provincial governments combine efforts on a set of key priority areas and build on existing partnerships by deciding on the appropriate level of co-management in regards to: information sharing; priority setting; planning; funding; decision-making; design; implementation; delivery; monitoring; evaluation; and reporting.
  • Federal settlement services are delivered across the country by third parties, including service provider organizations (SPOs), school boards, post-secondary institutions, non-governmental actors and the private sector.

Provinces also provide newcomers with settlement and integration support in their areas of responsibility, such as health, education, income support, social services, housing, legal aid and business development.

New types of partnerships are also being developed with municipalities. For example, the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement specified a place at the table for municipalities through the Municipal Immigration Committee resulting in the signing of the Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding in 2006.