ARCHIVED – Newsletter – May 2019

This edition of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Newsletter includes the following:

• Budget 2019: what it means for immigration in Canada
• Celebrating 40 years of private sponsorship of refugees
• IRCC launches a new Francophone Immigration Strategy and the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative
• Did you know...? The Interim Pathway for Caregivers, Immigration Matters and more!
• IRCC feature video: Mobilité Francophone: Advantages for employers
• Upcoming events and important dates

Budget 2019: what it means for immigration in Canada

The Government of Canada tabled the 2019 Budget in March. Here’s a breakdown of what it means for IRCC and Canadian immigration:

Client service

• $42.9 million over 2 years will be provided to IRCC to improve immigration client service by adding call centre agents, with a focus on business lines with the longest delays.
• $78.6 million over 2 years is to be invested to ease and increase the efficiency of the entry of visitors to Canada, while protecting the health and security of Canadians. The funds will also ensure the resources needed to process global demand for Canadian visitor visas, work and study permits.

Border security

• $1.18 billion over 5 years starting in 2019 to 2020, and $55 million per year ongoing, to support the Border Enforcement Strategy, process 50,000 asylum claims per year and facilitate the removal of failed asylum claimants in a timely matter. Resources will also strengthen processes at the border and accelerate the processing of claims and removals to increase the efficiency of the system.

Immigration consultants

• $51.9 million over 5 years, starting in 2019 to 2020, and $10.1 million per year ongoing to help protect newcomers and applicants wishing to obtain services from legitimate service providers. This will improve the government’s oversight of immigration consultants and support public awareness activities that will help new immigrants and applicants protect themselves from fraudsters and scammers.

Celebrating 40 years of private sponsorship of refugees

Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees program turned 40 last month. Canadians across the country were celebrated for their immense contributions and dedication to providing a safe haven for vulnerable refugees around the world.

Private sponsors play a significant role in thousands of new Canadian success stories. They commit to supporting resettled refugees during their first year in Canada by finding them housing, buying them groceries or winter clothing, providing emotional support and more.

Since 1979, private sponsors have welcomed more than 327,000 refugees from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Poland and Vietnam, to name a few. This is over and above those resettled with funding from the government, or government-assisted refugees. Through the Syrian refugee resettlement initiative alone, more than 2 million Canadians reported that they were personally involved in helping refugees come to and settle in Canada.

The efforts and support of the thousands of volunteers is the main reason why Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program continues to be a success. It has even become a model for other countries around the world. Until 2016, Canada was the only country with such a program.

Through the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative, sponsorship programs have grown significantly and Argentina, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Spain and Germany are now developing or operating their own community sponsorship programs.

Associated links

• News release – Canada celebrates 40 years of the refugee sponsorship program
• Backgrounder – By the numbers – 40 years of Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program
• Thank you Canada
• Learn more about sponsoring refugees

IRCC launches a new Francophone Immigration Strategy and the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative

IRCC has launched a new Francophone Immigration Strategy, which aims to increase Francophone immigration, support the successful integration and retention of French-speaking newcomers, and strengthen the capacity of Francophone communities outside Quebec.

As part of this Strategy, IRCC also announced the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative. This pilot aims to put communities at the heart of decision-making. It is enabling 14 communities to develop innovative activities “by and for Francophones” that will help forge links between French-speaking newcomers and host communities.

So far, IRCC has announced that it has selected Calgary, the Seine River Region, Iqaluit and Prince George as welcoming Francophone communities. The remaining communities will be announced at a later date.

Associated links

• Meeting Our Objectives: Francophone Immigration Strategy
• Francophone Immigration (outside Quebec)

Did you know...?

The Interim Pathway for Caregivers (IPC) will continue to accept applications until June 4, 2019. The IPC’s modified criteria aim to provide permanent residence to caregivers who have been working in Canada, but who may not qualify for the Caring for Children or Caring for People with High Medical Needs programs. Learn more about the IPC process.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms celebrated its 37^th anniversary on April 17, 2019. To celebrate, Canada welcomed 37 new Canadian in a special citizenship ceremony on Parliament Hill.

Immigration Matters tells stories of immigrants who are making a difference all over Canada. Watch these videos, produced by IRCC, and be inspired by the immigrants enriching communities across the country.

IRCC feature video

The IRCC video team produces informative and creative videos on a wide range of subjects of interest to the department, Canadians and our clients. In each issue of our newsletter, we highlight one of their productions.

In this issue we bring you Mobilité Francophone: Advantages for employers.

Listen to the stories of employers and the employees they hired through Mobilité Francophone. Find out how this program makes it easier for Canadian employers outside of Quebec to hire French-speaking workers

Upcoming events and important dates

Mark your calendar! Below is a selection of upcoming special events and national celebrations.

May is Asian Heritage Month. Celebrate the many achievements of Canadians of Asian descent who have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation it is today.

The 5^th annual Toronto Newcomer Day takes place on May 16, 2019. Join in welcoming newcomers to Toronto with activities and entertainment at this event that celebrates Toronto’s diverse communities.

June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to honour the heritage and contributions of First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada. Plan an event on June 21, which is National Indigenous Peoples Day, and continue celebrating the culture and achievements of Canada’s diverse indigenous communities.

June 20 is World Refugee Day, a day that focuses the world’s attention on the plight of refugees and displaced people around the world, the causes of their exile, their resolve and will to survive and how they contribute to Canada.

Discover and celebrate the rich culture and heritage of Canada’s Francophone community on June 24, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.

The International Metropolis Conference, the largest gathering of experts on migration, integration and diversity, takes place from June 24 to 28, 2019, in Ottawa and Gatineau. Register now!

June 27 is Canadian Multiculturalism Day, which celebrates Canada’s diversity and encourages us to appreciate the contributions of multicultural groups to Canadian society.

Features