On May 11th, IRCC announced a massive investment of $65 million in settlement services. The new investments in settlement services in Canada include pre-arrival services, language training services, and services for racialized newcomer women in Francophone minority communities.
The declaration emphasized that the settlement services in Canada are integral for helping newcomers. In addition, these services provide support & information to immigrants so they can make informed decisions about their new lives in the country before and after their arrival.
The Parliamentary Secretary asserted that the new investments in settlement services are aimed at purposeful integration. These investments will allow Canada to support the needs and demands of newcomers worldwide.
In 2021, IRCC conducted a study to have a fair view of how the services have affected newcomers. The study reveals that over 95% of the immigrants received successful settlement services. In addition, over 78% of newcomers received employment services that helped them acquire skills, knowledge, expertise, & connections that assisted them in preparing for the Canadian labor market.
IRCC’s pre-arrival services are aimed at maximizing social & economic integration by:
- Connecting with the clients & providing them with the information & services they require via a streamlined process.
- Motivating newcomers to apply for foreign credentials before they arrive.
- Linking clients to local & federal settlement services in Canada.
Marie-France Lalonde, the immigration minister of Canada in 202, also announced that the YMCA of the National Capital Region would receive over $1.2 million to offer pre-arrival services to newcomers consistently. In addition, Bob Gallagher, President & CEO of YMCA, asserted that these investments continue to provide specialized orientation & information about skilled trades, construction centers, etc., thus helping people to ease their transition to Canada.
In addition, the YMCA also offers a broad range of services abroad, which can be accessed online as well as in-person. The pre-arrival service providers, newcomers, are able to access resources even before they arrive in Canada. These resources focus on data about the Canadian workplace, soft skills development, employment counseling, etc.
Settlement Services In Canada – How To Access Them?
Settlement services in Canada are free and are managed at three levels, i.e., federal, municipal, and provincial. The kind of services include:
- Helping with everyday life in Canada
- Helping find employment
- Job-specific language training
- Special services for women and refugees
- Helping to prepare for citizen test
- Finding a mentor as an immigrant
- Becoming a mentor for an immigrant
In order to help newcomers access the services they require, IRCC has a Campus to Connect, which gathers these services into a tool to find the nearest available services. The tool also offers specific programs for women, youth senior citizens, and 2SLGBTQi+ individuals.
Compass to Connect is a funded website of IRCC that offers easy settlement services in Canada. In addition, settlement counseling & referrals are also available to people who are unsure what website they need. Moreover, these services connect newcomers with a settlement advisor who helps determine which services might benefit them.
In addition, newcomers can also inquire with provincial/ municipal settlement service providers for the same.
Finally, it is vital to note that the settlement services in Canada are specifically available to permanent residents, a few temporary citizens, and protected persons. In addition, the government of Canada has a separate settlement program for refugees, i.e., Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP).