Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia Selected to Provide Pre-Arrival Services
News release
Organization will deliver settlement services to newcomers before they arrive in Canada
January 16, 2019—Halifax, NS—Pre-arrival settlement services are a key element of Canada’s immigration program. They provide newcomers, including refugees, with the information and settlement support they need to make informed decisions about their new life in Canada before they arrive, such as how to prepare for finding a job. To help deliver these important services, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be providing funding of $13.1 million to the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS).
Matt DeCourcey, Member of Parliament for Fredericton and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
ISANS is 1 of 3 organizations that will be providing general employment services to pre-arrival clients. These comprehensive employment supports include online modules, webinars and employment counselling. New elements in this funding cycle include the expansion of existing Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA) programming to deliver services in French, as well as more targeted employment services for refugees and youth. ISANS will also continue to provide orientation services to Atlantic Immigration Pilot clients.
Today’s funding announcement is part of IRCC’s renewed pre-arrival services program, which will maximize the social integration of newcomers, set them up to contribute to the economy and help grow the middle class by:
- directly connecting clients with the information and services they need through a streamlined, easy-to-navigate process
- providing pre-arrival services to Francophones through a collaborative partnership model
- offering general, regional and occupation-specific employment services to boost job prospects
- encouraging newcomers to apply for job licensure before they arrive, if needed
- linking clients to federal and provincial settlement services in Canada
Quotes
“Providing services to newcomers before they arrive in Canada is critical to successful integration. These services help newcomers make decisions about the life they want to live in Canada as early as possible in their immigration journey. IRCC has put in the work to shape a pre-arrival program that will deliver consistent, high quality client-centered services to people around the world.”
– Matt DeCourcey, Member of Parliament for Fredericton and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
“As part of IRCC’s renewed pre-arrival program, I’m happy that IRCC has selected ISANS to deliver these important services. This investment will allow this organization to provide employment services to newcomers before they come to Canada.”
– Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax
“ISANS is honoured to be selected as one of the settlement agencies chosen to offer pre-arrival services to newcomers of Canada. Since 2015, our Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA) team has delivered pre-arrival services to more than 4,300 newcomers. This partnership with the IRCC will allow us to continue working to assist more newcomers as they prepare to work and settle in Canada.”
– Jennifer Watts, CEO of ISANS
Quick facts
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In May 2018, IRCC launched an expression of interest process to solicit proposals for economic/family class and Francophone pre-arrival services. Sixteen experienced service provider organizations (SPOs) with proven results and strong partnerships were selected to deliver virtual and in-person services to newcomers, including refugees, around the world before they arrive in Canada. These pre-arrival services began on January 1, 2019.
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Funding for these 16 SPOs to 2023 totals approximately $113 million.
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Canada has funded pre-arrival services since 1998. While initially only provided to refugees, services were expanded to include non-refugee immigrants in 2001.
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In-person services will be offered in China, India, and the Philippines, along with a pilot project for in-person Francophone services in Morocco.
Contacts
Contacts for media only
Mathieu Genest
Minister’s Office
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-954-1064
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-952-1650
IRCC.COMMMediaRelations-RelationsmediasCOMM.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
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