Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has provided a generous fund of $100 million to meet the settlement needs of the new immigrants landing in the country during a pandemic.
The allocated fund will be consumed for three years. It aims to adapt to the delivery of settlement services to newcomers so they reflect the contrast between pandemic and post-pandemic contexts.
The Immigration Department’s Service Delivery Improvement (SDI) program provided the fund for new projects such as language training, skill development, information, assessment, employment-related services, and community connections. These factors are assessed by settlement service providers in the area.
IRCC has selected 78 projects under the 2020 funding process.
IRCC talked about the significance of the projects which are designed to help the immigrants to dwell into their new communities and help the settlement sector as it recovers from the shackles of the pandemic.
“These projects will explore how to better integrate newcomers in their new communities and support the settlement sector as it recovers from the pandemic,” IRCC said in a statement.
“Throughout the pandemic, many settlement services have moved online. SDI funding will help IRCC determine the kinds of services newcomers need while taking into account the increased reliance on online service delivery.”
Among the selected projects is one that will test whether artificial intelligence can be used to develop settlement strategies for new immigrants, one that aims to develop service approaches with an anti-oppression framework, and one that will link newcomers with employers in rural communities before their arrival to see if this encourages them to settle in these areas.
“Settlement services play a fundamental role in Canada’s immigration system. From work to housing to language training, they set newcomers up for success. During this challenging year and a half, I think it’s safe to say everyone has needed support in some form or another. One can only begin to imagine the additional hurdles this pandemic has presented newcomers trying to start their lives in Canada. These new SDI projects will help us enhance and improve settlement services so every newcomer can reach their full potential here,” said Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, in a press release.
The Government of Canada provided settlement services for people who land in Canada as economic immigrants, refugees, minorities, or through family class sponsorship. These services assist the people to overcome the challenges they face as a newcomer in an unknown country. Immigrants might need help in finding a job, a house, or learning languages like English or French that will help them to sustain their life in Canada with ease.
These settlement services provided by the IRCC also include all the Canadian permanent residents and protected people residing in Canada.
The Settlement Outcomes 2021 Report by IRCC shows that the majority of the immigrants who received the settlement services find it helpful and suitable to their needs. They stated that these services have helped them in multiple ways and improved their lifestyle in Canada. It significantly improved their English and French language proficiency, prepared them according to the Canadian labor market needs, and also helped them to connect with organizations in their communities.
The report also stated that between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2019, there were over one million immigrants who received settlement services in Canada.
The Canadian Government has aimed to welcome at least 401,000 newcomers every year starting 2021. This makes the 2021-2023 immigration Levels Plan to be the most ambitious immigration plan in Canadian history.
