The federal government is investing approximately $1.2B in 2024–2025 to support the settlement needs of newcomers (outside of Quebec).
The number of newcomers accessing settlement services has increased over time, reaching a record high of nearly 704 000 unique clients in 2023–2024.
Key Messages
With the reduction in permanent resident admissions in the 2025–27 Levels Plan, we expect a decrease in funding for settlement services in the coming years, given that funding is tied to the number of past arrivals and future admissions.
The Government of Canada is, nevertheless, committed to ensuring that newcomers are able to access the supports and services they require to meet their settlement and resettlement needs, make the most of their experience in Canada, and successfully integrate and contribute to the Canadian economy and communities.
Through IRCC Settlement and Resettlement Assistance Programs, eligible newcomers will continue to receive: the information that they need about life in Canada and the community in which they will settle; language training; help finding a job; and support to build connections with established immigrants, Canadians, and Indigenous Peoples.
Following the 2024 national Call for Proposals for the Settlement and the Resettlement Assistance Programs, IRCC will be putting in place agreements as of April 1, 2025.
After a review of the CFP 2024 results, a decision on the recommended suite of projects has been finalized and communicated to applicants, taking into account the 2025–27 Levels Plan. These funding decisions reflect our focus on service excellence, strong newcomer outcomes, continuity of high-quality services, and the best possible value for money.
The Department remains committed to continual engagement with the settlement sector as we move forward.
Supplementary Information
All permanent residents (including protected persons, such as resettled refugees) are eligible to receive settlement services in multiple languages, until they become Canadian citizens. Temporary residents, asylum seekers, and Canadian citizens are generally not eligible for federally-funded settlement services.
Federally-funded settlement services are delivered in multiple languages by more than 550 third-party service provider organizations across Canada (excluding Quebec, where services are determined by the Canada-Quebec Accord). This includes close to 80 Francophone service providers in Francophone-minority communities.
Through these organizations, newcomers can access the following federally-funded settlement services:
Needs and assets assessment and referral services;
Information and orientation, both pre- and post-arrival to Canada;
Language training in English or French;
Employment-related services;
Community connections to build social cohesion and allow newcomers to develop a sense of belonging; and,
Additional support services to encourage uptake and remove barriers to accessing settlement services, including child care, transportation, translation, interpretation, short-term counselling, and provision of services for newcomers with disabilities.
Supporting specific populations
Tailored supports are available to newcomer populations that face additional barriers to services and who are at increased risk of marginalization, including racialized women, youth, seniors, people living with a disability, and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.
For example, the government has invested $5.9M for ten projects until 2025 to support targeted employment services for racialized newcomer women through the Settlement Program.
To help those fleeing the war in Ukraine settle in their new communities, under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel, IRCC has temporarily extended access until March 31, 2025 to the Settlement Program for Ukrainian nationals with temporary resident status in Canada, and their dependents.
Housing availability and affordability for newcomers
The government recognizes that the lack of affordable and available housing is affecting both Canadians and newcomers.
For newcomers, housing is a key component in their successful settlement and integration, and a requisite to achieving the long-term social and economic benefits of immigration.
In collaboration with settlement service providers in communities across Canada, as well as federal and provincial/territorial partners, IRCC will continue to provide information to assist newcomers in finding housing.
To better support government-assisted refugees and other eligible clients, IRCC funds immediate and essential services under the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP). These services are generally provided during the first 4–6 weeks of an eligible client’s arrival in Canada and may include temporary accommodation and assistance to find permanent accommodation. Eligible clients may also receive income support, which includes a one-time start-up payment to help clients set up a new home, as well as monthly income support generally for one year for shelter and other basic needs.
The Settlement Program also plays an important role in increasing the supply of housing by supporting the successful integration of newcomers into the Canadian labour market, including in the skilled trades and construction sector, through a suite of employment-related services funded by IRCC.
Language training tailored to the needs of French-speaking newcomers
The IRCC Settlement Program promotes both of Canada’s official languages by funding Official Language training across the country (outside Quebec) to meet the needs of newcomers settling in Canada. Programming is designed to be flexible and accessible to all permanent residents and other eligible clients through full- or part-time classes in classroom, online, or hybrid classes. To facilitate participation, training is offered to newcomers in tandem with support services such as childcare and transportation.
Through funding from the Action Plan for Official Languages (2018–2023), seven service providers receive funding to deliver English and/or French language training services adapted to the needs of French-speaking newcomers in Francophone minority communities to help them settle economically and socially.
The Government announced in April 2023 funding of $10.5M in the new Action Plan for Official Languages (2023–2028) to expand the availability of this programming.
