92% of newcomers in Canada agreed that their community was welcoming: Report

The first of its kind to be published, a new report – Settlement Outcomes Highlights Report –finds that newcomers to Canada allot high marks to the settlement services delivered to them after they migrated overseas to Canada.

Settlement services offered to newcomers include – helping a newcomer connect with their community, improving their English or French language proficiency, preparing them for the Canadian labour market or assistance in securing employment in Canada.

Crucial in setting newcomers up for success in their new country, the importance of settlement services for a migrant can hardly be over-estimated.

A high-level analysis and summary of the immigrant experience in Canada, Settlement Outcomes Highlights Report has been issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC]. The Report examines the successes and challenges of newcomers to Canada during the period 2015 to 2019, placing an emphasis on their use of the settlement services provided by the Canadian government. A wide majority of newcomers that availed settlement services reported that the services provided were useful and met their needs.

While the Highlights Report provides a summary and includes key findings, the detailed Settlement Outcomes Report is to be made available at a later date.

As per the Settlement Outcomes Highlights Report, “Settlement and integration in Canada is a “whole-of-society” endeavour, involving all levels of government, both the private and public sectors as well as civil society. “

Further, the Report states, “There has never been a more critical time to develop our understanding of newcomer outcomes. As Canada rebuilds after COVID-19, immigration will play a vital role in both the economic and societal recovery of the country. In a recent public opinion poll, 84% of Canadians agreed that immigration has a positive impact on Canada’s economy”.

There were certain key themes that came up in the findings of the Report.

Key Themes on Settlement Outcomes

·       The “starting line” is different for each newcomer ·       Specificity in programming may improve outcomes ·       The people using the services are the people who need ·       The first years are crucial ·       Timing is important ·       Support services are central to address barriers to success ·       Gender is a significant factor

IRCC manages the Settlement Program, delivered by 572 local service provider organizations throughout Canada [excluding Quebec].

IRCC’s Settlement Program funds settlement organizations outside Quebec – through various grants and contribution agreements – to deliver services for assisting newcomers progress on their settlement and integration journeys, thereby ensuring that they can contribute more fully to the Canadian society.

The federal government of Canada provides the Quebec government with funding in the form of a grant towards offsetting “the costs associated with the reception and integration services provided by the province”.

IRCC Settlement Services Available
CC	Community Connections Services	Help clients learn about and integrate into their local communities
ERS	Employment-Related Services	Help clients prepare for the labour market
I&O	Information and Orientation Services	Provide information to help clients settle
LA & LT	Language Assessment & Language Training Services	Help clients develop their official language skills
NAARS	Needs and Assets Assessments and Referrals	Determine what services clients need and provides referrals to receive them
SS	Support Services	Enable clients to access settlement services

From April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2019, more than 1 million newcomers received settlement services in Canada.

All Canadian permanent residents are eligible for IRCC-funded settlement services.

Over 90% of the newcomers to Canada agreed that their community was welcoming to immigrants.

Canada is all set to overtake the U.S. in terms of the total population vaccinated against COVID-19.

As per official statistics, as on July 15, 2021, over 46% of the Canadian population was fully vaccinated. Nearly 70% of the population in Canada, on the other hand, had been administered at least 1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Canada leads among the Top 10 most-accepting countries for a migrant.

According to Mercer 2021 Cost of Living City Ranking, top Canadian cities were more affordable than the U.S. and the U.K.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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