Details on Transfer Payment Programs of $5 Million or More

Settlement Program

General Information

  • Name of transfer payment program: Settlement Program
  • Start date:May 15, 2008
  • End date: Ongoing
  • Type of transfer payment: Contributions
  • Type of appropriation: The program is appropriated annually through Estimates.
  • Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2015–16
  • Strategic Outcome: Newcomers and citizens participate in fostering an integrated society
  • Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture:
  • 3.1.1 Settlement
  • 3.1.1.1 Language Training
  • 3.1.1.2 Community and Labour Market Integration Services

Description

Settlement refers to a short period of adaptation by newcomers during which the Government provides support and services. Ultimately, the goal of integration is for newcomers to be fully engaged in the economic, social, political and cultural life of Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Settlement Program assists immigrants and refugees to overcome barriers specific to the newcomer experience, such as a lack of official language skills, limited knowledge of Canada and the recognition of foreign credentials. The program provides language learning services for newcomers, community connections and employment-related services, settlement information, and support services that facilitate access to settlement programming. Most services are delivered by service provider organizations (SPOs) funded by IRCC, however, certain services (such as information provision) are delivered directly by IRCC in Canada and overseas.

Expected results

The Settlement Program's ultimate outcomes are:

  • newcomers contribute to the economic, social and cultural development needs of Canada; and
  • newcomer settlement and integration is supported in Canada.

Intermediate results of the Settlement Program are:

  • clients make informed decisions about life in Canada, enjoy rights and act on their responsibilities in Canadian society;
  • clients use official languages to function and participate in Canadian society; and
  • clients participate in local labour markets, broader communities and social networks.

Immediate results of the Settlement Program are:

  • clients receive appropriate information and services to address settlement needs; attain awareness of community and other resources to deal with settlement issues; gain knowledge about life in Canada; learn official languages; acquire knowledge and skills for adapting to life in Canada; and make connections related to community and employment.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

Completed 2009–10: Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada.

Completed 2010–11: Host Program, Welcoming Communities Initiative, Immigration Settlement and Adaptation Program, Going to Canada Immigration Portal Initiative.

Completed 2012–13: Overseas Orientation Initiatives, Recruitment and Integration of French-speaking Immigrants to Francophone Minority Communities Initiative, Foreign Credentials Referral Office.

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2021–22 (timing of next evaluation is subject to change given implementation of the new Policy on Results)

General targeted recipient groups

To fulfil IRCC’s objective of promoting the successful integration of permanent residents into Canada, contribution agreements may be signed with the following eligible recipients for settlement services:

  • provincial, territorial or municipal governments;
  • international organizations;
  • not-for-profit organizations including non-governmental organizations, non-profit corporations, community groups, umbrella organizations, regulatory bodies and apprenticeship authorities;
  • businesses, including those that provide indirect services (such as employers hiring newcomers, private language schools, conference organizers, web or production firms for tool development);
  • educational institutions (including school boards, districts and divisions); and
  • individuals.

Restrictions:

Unless specifically allowed in the contribution agreement, no user fees can be charged to clients for services funded by IRCC.
For-profit organizations may be eligible for funding provided that the nature and the intent of the activity is non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program priorities and objectives.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Ongoing consultations with provinces, territories, sector representatives and umbrella organizations are conducted to gather their input for settlement program priority setting activities. Consultations were conducted in meetings with service providers before the latest call for proposals.

Ongoing communications continue with the National Settlement Council, whose membership includes provincial and territorial governments, settlement SPOs, umbrella organizations that represent SPO interests, and other settlement stakeholders.

An open and fair call for proposals process is the principal approach the Department uses to engage applicants. IRCC will conclude the negotiations of new agreements to take effect in April 2017.

Planning Information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2016–17
Forecast spending
2017–18
Planned spending
2018–19
Planned spending
2019–20
Planned spending
Total grants 0 0 0 0
Total contributions 660,818,915 701,528,602 679,374,768 606,317,002
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 660,818,915 701,528,602 679,374,768 606,317,002

Resettlement Assistance Program

General Information

  • Name of transfer payment program: Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP)
  • Start date: 1951 (then the Adjustment Assistance Program; RAP in its current form implemented in 1998)
  • End date: Ongoing
  • Type of transfer payment: Contribution
  • Type of appropriation: The program is appropriated annually through Estimates.
  • Fiscal year for terms and conditions:2016–17
  • Strategic Outcome: Newcomers and citizens participate in fostering an integrated society
  • Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture: 3.1.4 Resettlement Assistance Program

Description

The RAP’s primary objective is to meet the resettlement needs of clients following their arrival in Canada by providing direct financial support and immediate and essential services. Eligible clients include Government-assisted refugees and certain persons in refugee-like situations admitted to Canada under a public policy consideration. Similar services are delivered provincially to clients in Quebec, through the Canada-Quebec Accord.

Income support is administered directly by IRCC, and can be provided for up to 12 months if the RAP client’s income is insufficient to meet his or her own needs and the needs of any accompanying dependants. In most cases, RAP clients also receive start-up allowances for expenses related to furniture and other household supplies.

Immediate and essential services are supported through contributions to SPOs. RAP services include, but are not limited to: port of entry services; assistance with temporary accommodations; assistance opening a bank account; life skills training; orientation sessions; and links to settlement programming and mandatory federal and provincial programs.

Limited services (port of entry services) are provided under RAP to all resettled refugees, and refugees resettled under the Blended Visa Office-Referred program may receive up to six months of monthly income support through RAP.

RAP also funds certain in-Canada activities to support the private sponsorship of refugees (such as the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program), as well as activities overseas (for instance, with the International Organization for Migration) to support resettlement and the objectives of RAP.

Expected results

The expected outcomes for the RAP include meeting the immediate and essential needs of RAP clients and ensuring that RAP services are timely, useful and accessible, while contributing to Strategic Outcome 3 (Newcomers and citizens participate in fostering an integrated society).

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation:

An evaluation of the RAP, as part of the Resettlement Programs evaluation, was completed in June 2016.

Decision following the results of last evaluation:

Not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation:

2020–21 (timing of next evaluation is subject to change given implementation of the new Policy on Results)

General targeted recipient groups:

The RAP largely targets two types of recipients: (1) resettled refugee clients, and persons in refugee-like situations admitted under a public policy; and (2) service providers who provide immediate and essential services to eligible clients. All recipients must be outside the province of Quebec.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients:

Refugee recipients undergo an intake assessment upon arrival in Canada to determine the level of support they need and what types of services they require. IRCC uses calls for proposals to award contribution agreements to service providers.

Planning Information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2016–17
Forecast spending
2017–18
Planned spending
2018–19
Planned spending
2019–20
Planned spending
Total grants 0 0 0 0
Total contributions 166,776,797 85,625,943 54,922,768 54,922,768
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 166,776,797 85,625,943 54,922,768 54,922,768

Canada-Quebec Accord Grant

General Information

  • Name of transfer payment program: Canada-Québec Accord Grant/Subvention versée en vertu de l'Accord Canada-Québec
  • Start date: Financial compensation to the province (in the form of a grant) is based on the Canada-Québec Accord relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission of Aliens, which came into force on April 1, 1991.
  • End date: The Accord does not have an expiry date.
  • Type of transfer payment: Grant
  • Type of appropriation:The program is appropriated annually through Estimates.
  • Fiscal year for terms and conditions: Ongoing
  • Strategic Outcome: Newcomers and citizens participate in fostering an integrated society
  • Link to department's Program Alignment Architecture: 3.1.2 Grant to Quebec

Description

Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, signed in 1991, Canada has devolved settlement and resettlement responsibility to Quebec, with a grant that includes reasonable compensation for costs. The compensation to Quebec covers reception services and linguistic, cultural and economic integration services, provided that they are equivalent to similar federal services in other parts of the country. An objective of the Accord is, among other things, the preservation of Quebec’s demographic importance within Canada and the integration of immigrants into that province in a manner that respects the distinct identity of Quebec. The Accord provides Quebec with exclusive responsibility for the selection of immigrants destined to the province (except for family reunification and asylum seekers in Canada) as well as the reception and linguistic and cultural integration of these immigrants (including resettlement of refugees). Under the Accord, Canada is responsible for defining overall immigration objectives, national levels, admissibility, selecting family category and asylum seekers in Canada, and citizenship. This program uses transfer payment funding from the grant for the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration.

Activities: Quebec has responsibility for the selection of immigrants and their reception to and integration into Quebec. In accordance with section 26 and Annex B of the Canada-Quebec Accord, Canada is required to pay compensation to Quebec for reception and integration services, where it is established that:

  • the reception and integration services (referred to in sections 24 and 25 of the Accord) offered by Quebec correspond, when considered in their entirety, to those offered by Canada in the rest of the country; and
  • those services are offered without discrimination to any permanent resident in the province, whether or not that permanent resident has been selected by Quebec.

Expected results:

The Government of Quebec is responsible for developing and publishing its own immigration legislation and policies. It reports to the provincial National Assembly on its own expected results related to immigration.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation:

Previous evaluation was completed in 2012.

Decision following the results of last evaluation:

Not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation:

2018–19 (timing of next evaluation is subject to change given implementation of the new Policy on Results)

General targeted recipient groups:

The Government of Quebec is the only recipient of the grant. 

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients:

RCC and the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI) meet on an annual basis, through the Joint Committee (Comité mixte), to coordinate the implementation of Canada’s and Quebec’s policies related to their immigration and integration objectives outlined in the Accord.  IRCC and MIDI also meet biannually, through the Implementation Committee (Comité d’application), to coordinate the implementation of the Accord and develop the necessary terms and conditions of operation.

Planning Information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2016–17
Forecast spending
2017–18
Planned spending
2018–19
Planned spending
2019–20
Planned spending
Total grants 378,213,000 378,213,000 378,213,000 378,213,000
Total contributions 0 0 0 0
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 378,213,000 378,213,000 378,213,000 378,213,000

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