The federal government invested approximately $1.1B in 2022-2023 to support the settlement needs of newcomers (outside of Quebec).
The 2023-2025 Levels Plan signals the Government’s commitment to welcoming a record number of newcomers, with permanent resident admissions targets of 465,000 in 2023; 485,000 in 2024; and 500,000 in 2025.
Key Messages
Canada is recognized as a world leader in the settlement and integration of newcomers.
Through language training, employment-related services and more, the settlement sector plays an important role in helping newcomers integrate into the labour market and society.
We are not alone in this work; we rely on the extensive network of partners and organizations that deliver services to help newcomers build new lives in Canada.
The Department’s investments in settlement services for newcomers have grown over time to support increases in immigration levels, as well as the recent arrival of Ukrainian temporary residents. As a result, all provinces and territories will see an increase in investment in their jurisdictions in 2023-2024, compared to 2022-2023.
Supplementary Information
All permanent residents (including protected persons, such as resettled refugees) are eligible to receive settlement services in English or French, 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 English or French 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 assessments and referrals;
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, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has temporarily extended access to the Settlement Program to Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel holders, Ukrainian nationals with temporary resident status in Canada, and their dependents, until March 31, 2025.
