Burnaby service providers who help immigrants and refugees are in the midst of a government-funding sea change.
On Monday, Citizenship and Immigration Canada put a call out for settlement work funding proposals for April 2014 - that's when the federal government takes back control of the millions that are normally transferred to the province. That money, more than $100 million this year, pays for language and settlement services, anti-racism initiatives and the provincial government's Welcome B.C. program.
Jody Johnson, project coordinator for the Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table, wasn't sure what shape the new model would take.
"It's a huge change, but what that's going to look like, we really don't know quite yet," Johnson said. "Until we go through this process of repatriation, it's a little bit speculative."
The Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table is a consortium of non-profits and government agencies that meet regularly to share resources, while identifying gaps in services for new immigrants and refugees in Burnaby. The table also runs a number of projects, such as the library's award-winning online collection of multi-lingual children's songs, and the storytelling training for refugees, both of which were recently featured in the Burnaby NOW.
But funding for these projects will no longer be available from the federal government, according to Chris Friesen, director of settlement services for the Immigrant Services Society of B.C.
"As of next April, there will be no project funding available. There will only be a resources for community convening - that means that (for) the Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table, there will be some resources to continue to meet, . but there will no longer be funding to undertake specific projects, like the storytelling and . the orientation of employers, and all of that stuff," he said. "If the group decides they want to take on a project, they have to look for funding for that. That's a pretty significant change from the current model and the funding arrangement."
According to Friesen, many programs in Burnaby will be affected, including adult ESL classes, agencies providing first-language settlement support - such as MOSAIC, SUCCESS and Immigrant Services Society - the Burnaby Intercultural Planning Table, the early childhood development newcomer family centre run by MOSAIC and the local school board.
Friesen said it's unclear how the provincial government will address some of the service gaps, given that Citizenship and Immigration Canada has strict eligibility criteria for client service.
Temporary foreign workers, refugee claimants, naturalized citizens now being served by agencies and other providers, will no longer be eligible for help next April.
"This is an issue that cities have to be aware of. How will supports to refugee claimants be provided? How will temporary foreign workers be supported if they run into crisis situations?" he asked.
The federal government has been transferring money to B.C. since 1998, but that deal ends April 2014, and both parties go back to the prior arrangement, where the feds hold the purse strings.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada is trying to make the changeover as smooth as possible by using a B.C.-specific call-for-proposals process.
"Both the federal and B.C. governments have been collaborating over the last year to ensure a smooth transition from provincial to federal administration of the settlement program," wrote Whitney Punchak, a communications advisor with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in an email to the NOW.
According to Punchak, resuming management of settlement services will ensure consistency across the country, except for Quebec, which uses a different model.
"It will also allow the realization of savings in administration costs. The federal government is not only committed to ensuring that each region of Canada receives a fair share of funding, but also that immigrants have access to the same level of services regardless of where they choose to settle," she wrote. "The change will ensure that the settlement program supports the federal interest in nation building and citizenship. The delivery of settlement services will be more cost-effective and efficient when managed as part of a harmonized national program."
Punchak also noted temporary residents, international students, refugee claimants and Canadian citizens are not eligible to receive CIC-funded settlement services. "If an organization wishes to continue providing services to clients who are not eligible under CIC funding protocols, they will have to find other supplemental funding sources," she said.
