1 / 16

Update on Canada’s Settlement Program

Update on Canada’s Settlement Program. Camille Papanek Integration & FCRO Branch RCM Integration Seminar Costa Rica, September 17-18, 2013. A quick refresher: Canada’s Integration Programs. Immigration and integration continuum Our integration partners & stakeholders

ashleigh
Download Presentation

Update on Canada’s Settlement Program

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Update on Canada’s Settlement Program Camille Papanek Integration & FCRO Branch RCM Integration Seminar Costa Rica, September 17-18, 2013

  2. A quick refresher: Canada’s Integration Programs • Immigration and integration continuum • Our integration partners & stakeholders • Settlement services funding & delivery • Settlement Program clients • Programming that meets client needs • Understanding newcomer outcomes

  3. Immigration and integration continuum MULTICULTURALISM OVERSEAS/ SELECTION AND PROMOTION ARRIVAL CITIZENSHIP SETTLEMENT/RESETTLEMENT Pre-Arrival Early Post-Arrival Years Post-Acquisition of Citizenship Programs contribute to both sides to differing degrees Two-Way Approach Society/Institutions Newcomers 2-Way Street Foster societal and institutional change to adapt to newcomers Support to newcomers to facilitate their adaptation to host society

  4. Our integration partners and stakeholders Community associations Canadian public Immigrant-serving organizations Ethno-cultural organizations Federal government Social service agencies Regulatory bodies Provincial and territorial governments Municipal governments Educational institutions Employers Newcomers CIC works in partnership with other federal departments/agencies and provinces/territories, and funds immigrant-serving organizations, social service agencies and educational institutions as service providers (SPOs).

  5. Settlement services funding and delivery • CIC selects service provider organizations through a National Call for Proposals (CFP) and provides funding through the exclusive use of Contribution Agreements. • In 2013-14 we have 750 contribution agreements with over 450 organizations and individuals. • Most SPOs are not for-profit or non-governmental organizations (77%) but increasingly mainstream organizations are becoming important players in service delivery.

  6. Settlement Program clients Canada – Permanent residents by category, 1987 to 2011 Intake of Permanent Residents by Immigration Category --1987 to 2011 Source: Facts & Figures 2011

  7. Programming that meets client needs Credential Recognition Knowledge of the accreditation process, accessing regulatory bodies, connections with employers. • Language proficiency and literacy • Access to literacy and language training services. Basic Needs Securing basic needs related to income, health, housing, personal safety and public transportation. • Information • Knowledge about living and working in Canada, and how to access mainstream programs and institutions. Skills Development Skills upgrading, Canadian work experience, soft skills, basic life skills. Social Connections Immediate social supports (i.e., families) and diverse social connections with groups and institutions. Labour Market Conditions Local labour market conditions, occupations in demand, employer openness and hiring policies, wages and mobility. Welcoming Communities Community and institutional supports, capacity of settlement provider organizations and partnerships, and public attitudes.

  8. Understanding newcomer outcomes Challenges • Recent immigrants have consistently low earnings and experience difficulties integrating the labour market (difficulties decrease with time spent in Canada) • Official language literacy of immigrants is below-average compared to Canadian-born (60% of immigrants below Level 3 on International Adult Literacy Survey scores) • Women, seniors, visible minorities and refugees face additional disadvantages and are more vulnerable to poor economic outcomes.

  9. What has changed since we last met • Legislative & policy changes with implications for settlement • Settlement governance & partnerships • Current Priorities • Notable new tools & initiatives

  10. Recent Legislative & Policy Changes • Immigration: Selection of economic principal applicants has become more proactive to ensure more immediate labour market success and spread the benefits of immigration across the country. • Pathways from temporary to permanent residence:Creation of programs that provide access to permanent residency for temporary residents with work and/or study experience. • Refugee selection: Greater emphasis on resettled refugees and vulnerable groups, and moving towards focused selection (i.e., region, group) with multiyear commitments • Citizenship: Consistent implementation of language requirements and new knowledge test that requires higher official language proficiencies.

  11. Settlement governance & partnerships Departmental organisation Federal control of settlement New partnerships with Province and Territories Partnerships with NGOs and Stakeholders Community-Based partnerships

  12. Current priorities • Move towards a new partnership model with provinces/territories • Harmonize program delivery by implementing a national platform of services based on identified newcomer needs and responsiveness to regional realities • Ensure our needs-based Program keeps pace with recent changes brought to skilled immigration selection while maintaining focus on most vulnerable clients • Support the integration of internationally trained individuals into the Canadian labour market by working with partners and stakeholders to improve foreign credential recognition practices

  13. Current priorities cont’d • Strengthen accountability, improving reporting on outcomes across Canada and informing national policy and programs. • Collaboration is ongoing with our provincial and territorial partners. • Engage existing and new stakeholders to contribute to integration, e.g. employers, school boards, boards of trade, levels of government, professional associations, ethno-cultural and faith-based organizations, community and social services

  14. Notable new program tools & initiatives Needs Assessment and Referrals: Online bridging tool (Living in Canada Wizard) assistsaccess to services http://www.cic.gc.ca/lctvac/english/index Information and Awareness Settlement Information Renewal Exercise Welcome to Canada http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/welcome/index.asp Language Learning and Skills Development Training Launch of Tutela, a repository and SPO community of practice Tutela.ca Labour Market Access: Educational Credential Assessment

  15. Some new program tools & initiatives Evidence-Based Policy Development FPT Settlement Outcomes Survey Qualitative Reporting by Service Providers Program Development Best practices in settlement website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/partner/bpss/index.asp (Examples of programs considered effective for refugees, women, youth and children etc.)

  16. Questions? Camille Papanek Integration Branch Citizenship and Immigration Canada (613) 957-4420 Camille.Papanek@cic.gc.ca

More Related