LANG – Settlement and Integration – December 6, 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, 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.
My department is also committed to enhancing the vitality of Canada’s linguistic duality through the delivery of settlement services in French and English, including for French-speaking newcomers in Francophone minority communities.
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 meet their needs.
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.
As Canada moves into the post-pandemic period, settlement services will continue to support an inclusive economic recovery and will be key to supporting Canada’s rising immigration Levels.
Settlement Supports For Newcomers In Francophone Minority Communities
Canada’s newcomers have generally been unaware of Francophone communities outside Quebec or of settlement services offered in French in these communities.
In addition, there has been inconsistent mix of services offered in French, by Francophone service providers, most of whom needed support to build their capacity to deliver services.
My department has implemented the Francophone Integration Pathway, which aims to strengthen French settlement services offered to French-speaking newcomers by Francophone organizations and to promote awareness of services to newcomers from all linguistic backgrounds. It also aims to support the vitality of Francophone minority communities outside Quebec.
The implementation of the Francophone Integration Pathway has resulted in notable advances:
Increased funding was provided to close to 80 Francophone organizations dedicated to the successful integration of French-speaking newcomers, an increase from 50 in 2018.
A single window for pre-arrival services (Connexions Francophones) has been established to offer services to French-speaking permanent residents. This project aims to connect French-speaking newcomers with Francophone communities prior to their arrival. In 2020-21, 80% of all eligible French-speaking immigrants aiming to settle outside Quebec received pre-arrival settlement services from this single-window, up from 64% the previous year.
Seven service providers are currently funded to deliver English and/or French language training services specifically tailored to the needs of French-speaking and allophone newcomers settling in Francophone minority communities. These services began in 2019 with funding from the 2018-2023 Action Plan for Official Languages.
My Department has doubled the number of Francophone resettlement centres for government-assisted refugees, with two new centres added in New Brunswick (Winnipeg, Cornwall, Moncton, Edmunston).
Fourteen communities across the country, outside Quebec, are piloting the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative with the aim of creating an environment in which newcomers will feel welcome. Since its implementation, this initiative has been frequently cited as a best practice, particularly for the central role given to communities in welcoming and retaining newcomers.
Resettlement Of Refugees In Francophone Communities Outside Of Quebec
Through our recent expansion of resettlement capacity, we have doubled the number of Francophone resettlement providers and are collaborating closely with Francophone communities outside Quebec.
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.
My Department and the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada 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.
Supporting Facts And Figures
In 2020-21, nearly 380,000 clients accessed at least one settlement service.
For the period 2017-2018 to 2021-2022, the number of French-speaking immigrants who used settlement and/or resettlement services increased 25%, from 12,665 to 15,870.
In recent years, an increased percentage of French-speaking newcomers have received at least one service from a Francophone organization: 44% in 2018-19; 51% in 2019-20; and 57% in 2020-21.
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.
