By admin (May 21, 2024)
Settlement Services Provided to Newcomers in Canada
Settlement services provided to newcomers in Canada are very crucial. 465,000 immigrants are about to be welcomed by Canada.
This yearly influx of people is very important for the demography and economy of the second-largest nation in the world. The immigration target of 2023 is ambitious. However, a functional system of immigration and integration of newcomers has been created by Canada to meet the nation’s cultural, economic, social, and humanitarian needs.
So what is the procedure for successfully settling newcomers into the country? The settlement services provided to newcomers in Canada are one of the key factors in the country’s success. These free settlement services are managed at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels.
These programs exist for ensuring newcomers are enabled to live their best lives in the country, while also aiding their ability to contribute socially, economically, and culturally, covering everything from information, needs assessment, and orientation services to community connection services, employment help, and language training.
Settlement services for new immigrants to Quebec are handled separately as Quebec operates its own immigration programs. In addition, a separate program known as the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) is run by the Canadian government for refugees. Only permanent residents, protected persons, and some temporary residents of Canada have access to settlement services in Canada.
Services Available for a New Canadian Resident
All settlement services can be broken down widely into sections mentioned below:
- Help finding a job
- Help with daily life
- Language assessments and general language training
- Help prepare for a citizenship test
- Finding a mentor for a newcomer
- Job-specific language training
- Specific services for refugees, youth, women, seniors, and other individuals
- Other services
Way to Access Settlement Services Provided to Newcomers in Canada
These services have been compiled into a useful tool by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), with a filtered search by postal code to find the closest available services. Specific settlement programs for women, seniors, and youth are also covered by the tool. Easy-to-search directories of settlement services are also provided by IRCC-funded websites like Compass to Connect, also delivering announcements on upcoming workshops and events for newcomers.
One can look at settlement counseling and referrals, which will connect them with a settlement counselor who can better determine what services may be of use if they are unsure what they need and what services apply to them.
To inquire about available services, municipal or provincial settlement service providers can also be directly contacted by newcomers. Searching for settlement services in your province or neighborhood is one of the easiest ways to do so.
How Effective These Services Can Be for Newcomers?
$ 2 billion CAD a year on settlement services is spent by the Canadian government. A huge investment for the federal government is represented by settlement services every year, but their actual efficacy in helping newcomers was still needed to be figured out.
The first study into newcomer outcomes was conducted by IRCC in 2021, through settlement programs. The study found that:
- 85% of the clients were reported being able to access services without difficulty, those who were referred to settlement services.
- Settlement services were received by the majority of newcomers (95%), and they said the services were useful for them.
- An average of 89.5% of newcomers self-reported improvements across writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills in both French and English in terms of language training.
- Clients who received employment-related services reported that settlement services helped them acquire skills, knowledge, and connections that further helped prepare them for the Canadian labour market. 78% of the people received employment related services.
- 61% of newcomers felt that they were helped to meet new people they now consider close friends after availing community connection settlement services. With 90% of people having a strong sense of belonging to Canada, 92% of newcomers agreed that their community was welcoming of newcomers.