Canada’s settlement services help newcomers integrate into the Canadian labour market and society, and build a successful life in Canada.
In 2021-2022, the Government has invested approximately $923M in the Settlement Program to support the settlement and integration of newcomers to Canada (outside of Quebec, which is covered by a separate agreement).
Approximately $61M, including $8.2M from the Official Language Action Plan, supports the integration of newcomers into Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec.
This investment reflects the Government’s recognition that strong settlement services provide newcomers with a solid foothold to contribute to Canadian society in the years to come.
Supplementary Messages
My Department works with Canada’s network of over 550 settlement service provider organizations, the private sponsorship community, Francophone minority communities, provincial/territorial counterparts and other federal departments to ensure newcomers are well supported and that services continue to meet their needs.
The delivery of French and English settlement services supports Canada’s linguistic duality and the vitality of Francophone minority communities.
The extensive network of service providers is critical to ensure that newcomers receive the supports they need. This includes services like language training, help finding employment and finding connections in communities.
Integration of Newcomers in Francophone Minority Communities
Canada’s newcomers have generally been unaware of Francophone communities outside Quebec or of settlement services offered in French. However, progress has been made to help communities better attract, welcome and integrate French-speaking newcomers.
My Department has implemented the Francophone Integration Pathway to welcome and integrate French-speaking newcomers and support the vitality of Francophone minority communities outside Quebec.
The Francophone Integration Pathway represents close to 80 Francophone organizations dedicated to the successful integration of French-speaking newcomers. The services offered support newcomers in their economic and socio-cultural integration, and create lasting ties between newcomers and Francophone communities. This initiative also aims to ensure that all newcomers, of all linguistic backgrounds, are aware of the possibilities to settle in French outside Quebec.
Settlement Supports for Newcomers in Francophone Minority Communities
Through the Settlement Program, permanent residents outside of Quebec can access settlement services in French or English.
Federally funded language training helps adult newcomers acquire the official language skills they need to contribute to the Canadian economy and integrate into their communities.
My Department works closely with Francophone stakeholders to ensure programming is tailored to the needs of communities and French-speaking newcomers.
The Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne and 13 Réseaux en immigration francophone have an enhanced role in supporting the Francophone Integration Pathway and implementing community action plans to better attract, welcome and integrate French-speaking newcomers.
The Réseau de développement économique et employabilité Canada and its members are leading a strategy to make employers aware of the benefits of hiring French-speaking and bilingual immigrants.
A new National Francophone Settlement Advisory Committee has been established to recommend a renewed model of coordination and support for the Francophone settlement sector and to inform departmental policies.
A single window for pre-arrival services has been established to connect newcomers to Francophone communities before they arrive in Canada.
My Department has doubled the number of Francophone resettlement centres for government-assisted refugees. Two new centres have been added in New Brunswick, alongside Winnipeg and Cornwall.
My Department and the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne are collaborating on key Government priorities through open dialogue on topics such as anti-islamophobia and Canada’s housing crisis in relation to the arrival of Afghan refugees.
Targeted Supports for Newcomers Facing Additional Barriers
My Department provides funding to settlement organizations to deliver tailored services to newcomers who are at increased risk of marginalization.
These tailored services include in-school programming, peer mentoring, LGBTQ2+ settlement supports focused on newcomer youth, women’s only language classes and conversation circles for seniors. Support services such as childcare, translation, interpretation, transportation, short-term counselling and services for newcomers with disabilities also facilitate access.
Anti-Racism Activities
My Department works in close collaboration with Francophone settlement stakeholders across the country to implement anti-racism strategies and increase connections between French-speaking newcomers and host communities, including First Nations.
Supporting facts and figures
In 2020-2021, nearly 380,000 clients accessed at least one settlement service.
An increased percentage of French-speaking newcomers have received at least one settlement service from a Francophone organization, from 44% in 2018-2019 to 57% in 2020-2021.
In 2020-2021, 31% fewer clients used settlement services, attributed to the 46% decrease in permanent resident admissions compared to 2019-2020 in light of pandemic restrictions.
Current figures for 2021-2022 indicate increased demand for settlement services from newcomers compared to the same period last year.
Background
Program Eligibility
All permanent residents and protected persons, outside of Quebec, are eligible for federally funded settlement services until they become Canadian citizens.
The federal government does not generally fund settlement services for temporary residents. However, in the context of certain immigration programs and pilots, such as the Atlantic Immigration Program and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, limited supports are available to temporary residents who have been selected and are on a pathway to permanent residence. Ukrainian temporary residents will also have access to settlement services until March 31, 2023.
Funding Guidelines
IRCC provides funding guidelines to support project solicitation processes from settlement organizations, including a major call for proposals process currently held every five years. This process includes broad-based assessment criteria outlined in IRCC’s CORE Principles (client-centered, outcomes-driven, responsive to need and effective use of resources) for the design, implementation and evaluation of projects. Funded organizations submit monthly reports, which are reviewed by program officials to ensure results align with project objectives. The program’s funding policy is based on departmental priorities and stakeholder consultations.
Settlement service providers provide quarterly and annual updates to IRCC on project outcomes that support program objectives. Contribution agreements are reviewed by officers on a regular basis and recipients provide monthly updates on the clients who have been served.
