IRCCs new investments in settlement services for newcomers were recently revealed on May 11 this year. The department declared its investment of $65 million in catering to service provider organizations throughout Canada. The settlement services include the following:
- Racialized newcomer women’s services
- Pre-arrival services
- Language training for new immigrants from the Francophone minority communities
This recent announcement focused on that such settlement services are primary to enable new immigrants to gain Canadian success.
These specific services also enable these newcomers to choose to begin a new Canadian life before and after they come to the country.
“Achieving good integration requires offering newcomers services before they enter Canada. With this investment, Canada will be able to continue meeting the requirements of immigrants from all over the world, said Marie-France Lalonde, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration.
IRCCs new investments in settlement services for newcomers
In order to determine how settlement services have impacted newcomer outcomes, IRCC performed a study in 2021. Reportedly, 95% of newcomers who used settlement assistance thought they were helpful. Additionally, 78% of people who received employment services said that those programs helped them develop the contacts, knowledge, and skills necessary for the Canadian labor market.
The pre-arrival services offered by the IRCC help incoming immigrants integrate as quickly as possible on a social and economic level through:
- Connecting customers directly to the information and services they require via a streamlined, simple-to-use procedure.
- Encouraging newcomers to request, if necessary, the recognition of their foreign credentials prior to arrival.
- Establishing connections for clients with federal and provincial settlement programs in Canada.
In addition, Lalonde disclosed that the YMCA of the National Capital Region would receive more than $1.2 million to keep offering vital pre-arrival assistance to newcomers. CEO Bob Gallagher stated that such investments “enable the YMCA to continue providing specialized information and orientation about the skilled trades, engineering and construction sectors. Further, they assist individuals to ease their arrival in Canada.”
The YMCA provides a varied range of services overseas that can be accessible both in person and online. Before arriving in Canada, newcomers have access to services through pre-arrival service providers. These services are geared towards soft skills enhancement, employment guidance, and knowledge of the Canadian workplace.
Accessing the settlement services
Settlement services are provided gratis and are overseen by local, provincial, and federal governments. The many settlement services that are offered include:
- Assistance with daily tasks in Canada
- Help with job search
- Assistance in testing for citizenship
- Language instruction and evaluations
- Training in a particular language for a job.
- Specific services for women, refugees, etc.
- A newbie seeking a mentor or a mentor seeking a newcomer
Compass to Connect, a program that compiles numerous services into one to discover the closest available resources, was developed by IRCC to assist newcomers in accessing the services they most need. The application also displays particular programs for 2SLGBTQi+ people, women, elders, and young people.
A website called Compass to Connect, supported by the IRCC, offers directories of settlement services that are simple to search. Those unaware of what services they require or what pertains to them can also receive settlement counseling and referrals. These programs put newcomers in touch with a settlement counselor who may assist them in identifying the resources that would be helpful to them.
The providers of municipal and provincial settlement services are another avenue for newcomers to direct their questions. Finding settlement services in your neighborhood is the simplest method to achieve this.
Lastly, only permanent residents, protected persons, and some temporary residents are eligible for settlement assistance in Canada. The Resettlement Assistance Program is a unique settlement program run by the Canadian government specifically for refugees.
