CIMM – Settlement and Integration – November 29, 2022

Key Messages

Canada’s settlement services help newcomers integrate into the Canadian labour market and society, and build a successful life in Canada.
The federal government is investing approximately $1.036B in the Settlement Program to support the settlement and integration of newcomers to Canada, 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.
My Department funds critical resettlement supports to help meet the unique needs of government-assisted refugees arriving in Canada, including those from Afghanistan.

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 meet their needs.
The extensive network of service providers is critical to ensure that newcomers, including refugees, receive the supports they need. This includes services like language training, help finding employment and finding connections in communities.
Service providers ensure that refugees have access to immediate and essential services upon arrival in Canada, such as temporary accommodation, orientation services, and income support.
Resettlement supports offered to Afghan refugees start at landing with airport reception, hotel accommodations and destining to communities where refugees will live. Agencies then link refugees to temporary housing and provide orientation and other immediate supports. These organizations also help to secure permanent housing.
Settlement services will continue to support Canada’s inclusive economic recovery and will be key to supporting our country’s rising immigration levels.

The Government recognizes that housing affordability and availability are challenges for Canadians and newcomers alike. For newcomers, housing is a key component in their successful settlement and integration.
The importance of affordable housing has been brought into focus with our efforts to resettle Afghan refugees and support individuals fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
Although housing falls outside of IRCC’s mandate, my Department will continue to support broader efforts to address current housing challenges in Canada by working closely with federal, provincial, territorial and other partners.

Resettlement supports offered to Afghan refugees start at landing with airport reception, hotel accommodations, and destining to communities where refugees will live. Agencies link refugees to temporary housing, provide orientation, and other immediate supports. They also help to secure permanent housing.

Through the Interim Federal Health Program, my Department provides limited, temporary coverage of healthcare benefits to refugees until the beneficiary qualifies for provincial or territorial health insurance and extended healthcare benefits.
The Program is an important component of the Government's suite of federal benefits for refugees, supporting their settlement outcomes and their ability to fully participate in their new communities.

Schools have been welcoming and supporting Afghan children in communities across the country. For example, in Saskatoon, as part of the Settlement Workers in Schools Refugee Language Program, Afghan children were given extra support to improve their English language skills, all while learning about Canadian culture and geography.
A former Afghan refugee and now member of the Toronto Police Service and his partner enlisted the support of their community to create Project Hope. As of April 2022, they have received over $300,000 worth of clothing, toys, and household items and continue to deliver essential items like beds, blankets, and kitchenware to newly settled Afghan refugees.

Quebec is an active supporter of Canada’s humanitarian traditions through the resettlement of persons in need of protection.
Under the 1991 Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec has the sole responsibility for the selection of economic immigrants and the delivery of settlement and resettlement services in the province.

My Department provides funding to settlement organizations to deliver tailored services to newcomers who are at increased risk of marginalization.
Tailored settlement services include: in-school programming, peer mentoring, LGBTQ2+ settlement supports focused on newcomer youth, supports for racialized newcomer women, women-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 to settlement programming.

In 2021-2022, 428,600 clients accessed at least one settlement service, a 13% increase compared to 2020-2021.

General eligibility: All permanent residents and protected persons, outside of Quebec, are eligible for federally funded settlement services until they become Canadian citizens.
Government-assisted refugees: Third-party service provider organizations ensure that government-assisted refugees have access to immediate and essential services upon arrival in Canada. Supports are funded through the Resettlement Assistance Program, which receives separate funding, and include being greeted at the airport upon arrival in Canada, temporary housing and help to find permanent housing, help to register for mandatory federal and provincial programs, orientation to community services and income support. In general, income support can last up to one year after arrival in Canada, or until they can support themselves, whichever occurs first.
Temporary residents: 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. Ukrainians and their family members in Canada under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) also have access to settlement services until March 31, 2023.