Update on Canada’s Settlement Program Draft July 12 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 Settlement services funding & delivery Settlement Program clients Programming that meets client needs Understanding newcomer outcomes

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

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 Role of NGOs in Policy dialogue 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).

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.

Settlement Program clients Permanent Residents by Category 3 year avg. (2009-2011) Economic Class (see Annex) 165,511 Family Class 60,624 Refugees* 25,140 Other Immigrants 9,259 *Government Assisted Refugees, Privately Sponsored Refugees, refugees landed in Canada and refugee dependants Canada – Permanent residents by category, 1987 to 2011 Intake of Permanent Residents by Immigration Category --1987 to 2011 The program is available to those who intend to stay in Canada: Permanent residents of Canada Selected immigrants overseas; and Persons in Canada who have received approval, subject to an admissibility assessment Temporary foreign workers, refugee claimants, and Canadian citizens are ineligible. Source: Facts & Figures 2011

Programming that meets client needs Language proficiency and literacy Access to literacy and language training services. Information Knowledge about living and working in Canada, and how to access mainstream programs and institutions. Credential Recognition Knowledge of the accreditation process, accessing regulatory bodies, connections with employers. Basic Needs Securing basic needs related to income, health, housing, personal safety and public transportation. 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.

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.

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

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. Multiculturalism review is underway Discussion Citizenship - civic

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

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

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

Notable new program tools & initiatives Needs Assessment and Referrals: Online bridging tool (Living in Canada Wizard) assists access 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

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.) Spend time pulling up examples for women, refugees, youth, children and families

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