Commonwealth_ British Columbia-based service providers are facing significant funding cuts for immigrant settlement services, with some organizations losing their funding entirely as of March 31.
The funding reductions, announced last fall, are tied to broader immigration policy changes by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). These changes are part of a federal effort to scale back immigration and refugee intake to pre-COVID levels. IRCC stated that funding adjustments were made in regions where fewer newcomers are expected or where alternative service providers already exist.“In making these difficult decisions, we carefully consider the number of newcomers expected to arrive, the needs of those accessing services, relationships with our partner organizations, and available resources,” IRCC communications adviser Mary Rose Sabater told The Tyee via email.
Starting April 1, the federal government will allocate $1.2 billion annually for settlement services across Canada, excluding Quebec. This marks a 4.2 percent increase from the previous year. However, only regions expected to welcome more newcomers will receive the additional funding, leaving some B.C. communities without crucial support.
B.C. settlement service providers warn that these cuts could severely impact the ability of newcomer families and individuals to access essential services. These services include language classes, after-school and weekend programs for children and youth, and job-readiness training. Without these supports, many immigrants may struggle to integrate into Canadian society effectively. One of the organizations affected is Collingwood Neighbourhood House in Vancouver. The community-based service provider, which had received IRCC settlement funding for three decades, will see its funding completely cut in 2025. The depletion of existing funds at the end of March will result in the layoff of about 20 staff members.Robert Moya, youth settlement lead at Collingwood, is among those losing their jobs. However, he is less concerned about his employment than about the broader impact of the funding cuts.
If alternative funding sources are not secured, Collingwood Neighbourhood House will have to shut down all its settlement services, including programs specifically designed for newcomer youth. These initiatives, which include music and arts programs, neighborhood sports, after-school mentorship, leadership training, and pre-employment mentoring, have played a vital role in the community.
“In the last 10 years, these programs have been instrumental in this neighborhood in building culture and identity while addressing community needs and bringing people together,” Moya said. He emphasized that these programs help bridge the social gap between newcomer youth and their Canadian-born peers, fostering a sense of belonging and integration.
Sandra Suazo, team lead for settlement and LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) services at Collingwood, highlighted the significant number of people who rely on these programs. Although the number of participants fluctuates, she estimates that 60 to 80 school-aged youth attend the weekend programming, while approximately 80 adults are enrolled in LINC classes.
“Each of the settlement workers has at least 40 clients that they’re interacting with each month,” Suazo said, adding that there are waiting lists for each worker due to high demand.
The loss of funding raises concerns about the sustainability of vital settlement programs in B.C. and the long-term consequences for immigrant communities. Without accessible language classes, employment training, and youth support programs, newcomers may face greater challenges integrating into Canadian society.
Service providers like Collingwood Neighbourhood House now face the urgent task of identifying alternative funding sources to continue their work. If they fail, they risk losing the decades-long infrastructure that supports newcomers and the progress they’ve made in fostering inclusive, vibrant communities. As the March 31 deadline approaches, many affected organizations are calling for reconsideration of the funding cuts or for provincial and municipal governments to step in and provide additional support. The coming months will determine whether B.C.’s immigrant support network can withstand these reductions or whether critical services will be permanently diminished.
