18 th National Metropolis Conference Toronto, ON, March 3 rd , Block B, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Immigration Settlement Services & Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity Presenter: Dr. Kim Lemky, Acting Director Rural Development Institute Co-Presenters: Dr. William Ashton, RDI Director | Eleni Galatsanou, Research Associate
Introduction Percentange of Permanent Residents in BC, AB, SK, MB living outside the big cities, 2004-2013 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Manitoba (less Winnipeg) Saskatchewan (less Regina & Saskatoon) Alberta ( less Calgary & Edmonton) British Columbia (less Vancouver & Victoria) Source: CIC Facts and Figures 2013 86.5 84.2 83.0 Possible reasons for the increase of newcomers 80 68.3 in rural communities 60 Percent 36.6 34.0 40 26.3 27.0 22.0 19.1 16.2 14.9 12.2 20 10.5 10.5 2.7 0 Employment Family and/or Ethnocultural Community / Lifestyle Other reasons community British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Source: Ashton,W.,Pettigrew,R.,Galatsanou,E.2015, Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in CIC’s western region Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 2
“Immigration 29 rural communities & 3 Territories Settlement Services & Gaps in the Western 160 representatives of SPOs Region”, 2015 study 35 reports Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 3
Are rural communities ready? SPOs - Service offering - Organizational capacity Capacity Partnerships Broader community Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 4
SPOs’ Settlement Service Offering Basic services (language training, help finding a job and with daily life, social inclusion/integration support) – YES , In almost all communities Specialized services (Job specific/advance language training, health/mental health supports, specialized programming for youth, women and senior, assistance with foreign credential recognition) - No , in the majority of communities Basic services were identified as the most important ones needed. However, expansion of services is needed. Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 5
SPO organizational capacity Does your organization have enough capacity to serve the newcomers in your community? 10 variables on SPOs’ organizational capacity Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 6
SPOs’ organizational capacity AB-BC-SK-MB Adequate Capacity Inadequate Capacity Coordinating services with other service providers 72.9% 27.1% Meet reporting requirements 72.4% 27.6% Communication with stakeholders 70.5% 29.5% Staff skills for delivery and maintenance of services 62.4% 37.6% Creation of governing and strategic plan 53.4% 46.6% Staff to provide services 52.1% 47.9% Financial support to maintain current services from gov’t … 51.4% 48.6% Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 7
SPOs’ organizational capacity AB-BC-SK-MB Adequate Capacity Inadequate Capacity Mobilization of community to support and 44.6% 55.4% welcome newcomers Financial support to maintain current services from 37.7% 62.3% other sources Provide services in both official languages 32.4% 67.6% Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 8
SPO’s needs Core funding Flexible policies that consider rural issues Sharing information and beneficial practices Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 9
Enhancing partnerships Strong partnerships help rural communities maximize resources and use capacity efficiently - More emphasis on integration No LIP in the selected activities communities , however 90% of SPOs reported - Improve partnerships with working in partnership employers Activities in partnership - Local Immigration partnerships Settlement 75% Welcoming 78% Integration 75% Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 10
Community settlement capacity Housing Childcare Public Transportation Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 11
Conclusion So, are small and rural communities ready to receive and retain newcomers? Yes , with some help : • Expand services • Support for SPOs / Core funding • Fostering partnerships – LIPS • Community settlement capacity Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 12
Partners Provincial Governments: BC, AB, SK, MB Territorial Governments Settlement Service Providers Associations AMSSA, AAISA, SAISIA, MIRSSA, YTEC Research Participants Immigration Settlement Services and Gaps in the Western Region: Focus on Capacity 13
Questions Reports can be found at https://www.brandonu.ca/rdi/publication/immigration-settlement-services-and-gaps-in-citizenship- and-immigration-canadas-western-region/ and http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/research/immigration/3747.html Contact: Dr. Kim Lemky A/Director, Rural Development Institute, Brandon University Email: rdidirector@brandonu.ca | P: 204-571-8513 14
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