Question Period Note: Settlement Services

Update on how IRCC supports settlement services for immigrants.

• The Government is committed to supporting the successful integration of newcomers to Canada, including into the job market, to help address labour shortages.

• Settlement services are essential to help new immigrants adapt to the Canadian labour market and to fill vacancies in high-demand sectors such as health care and skilled trades.

• In 2025-26, the Government plans to invest approximately $1.125 billion in settlement services, which are delivered by more than 520 organizations outside Quebec.

If pressed:
• Evidence shows that earlier use of settlement services is associated with better outcomes for clients and long-term integration to Canada.
• Furthermore, by adjusting eligibility for economic immigrants, IRCC is ensuring that spending remains sustainable and focused on programs and activities that are cost-effective, core to the federal mandate, complementary to other government programming, and aligned with government priorities.
• Limiting the eligibility period of Economic Class principal applicants and their spouses/dependents aligns with the Department’s objective of selecting “immigrants ready to support the workforce and economy, without placing additional demands on our social services”
• To minimize disruption, clients who become ineligible while attending an IRCC-funded language training course can complete the semester or stay until the end of a fiscal year, whichever comes first. In addition, support for other services will continue until the end of the calendar month in which they become ineligible.

• Canada has a managed immigration model that includes setting annual immigration levels, selecting immigrants, supporting them through their settlement journey, facilitating their acquisition of Canadian citizenship, and assisting with their long-term integration. The ultimate goal is for newcomers to fully participate in Canada’s economic, social, cultural, and political life.

Settlement Services for Newcomers in Canada

• In general, permanent residents are eligible to receive federally-funded settlement services until they obtain Canadian citizenship. Budget 2025 announced limits to the duration of eligibility for economic immigration classes. These changes will be implemented starting on April 1, 2026.

• Temporary residents, asylum seekers, and Canadian citizens are generally not eligible, except in limited cases – such as temporary residents on a clear pathway to permanent residence under regional immigration programs and pilots, or certain temporary residents arriving under a departmental response to an international crisis (e.g., Gaza).

• IRCC’s settlement services are delivered by more than 520 third-party service provider organizations across Canada (excluding Quebec), including close to 80 Francophone service providers in Francophone-minority communities. Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, the province of Quebec receives an annual federal grant to design, deliver, and administer its own settlement programming.

• Through these organizations, newcomers can access the following federally funded settlement services in English or French, as well as many other languages, some of which are offered both pre- and post-arrival in Canada:
- Needs and assets assessment and referrals and information and orientation;
- Language training in French and English;
- Employment related services;
- Community connections to build social cohesion and help newcomers develop a sense of belonging;
- Case management services, offering a client-centered, comprehensive approach for newcomers facing persistent multiple barriers to integration;
- Settlement workers in schools, providing school-based settlement programming that fosters inclusion and intercultural competence within the education system; and
- Additional support services to remove barriers and support equitable access to settlement services, including child care, transportation, translation, interpretation, short-term counselling, and supports for newcomers with disabilities. In 2025, digital supports were also introduced to help newcomers navigate and access IRCC-funded remote settlement services.

• IRCC’s settlement programming also works with communities to educate and engage stakeholders and to improve systems so that they can better support newcomers. This aspect of programming encourages newcomer integration within diverse communities and helps reduce social isolation.

• In addition, IRCC supports communities and municipalities across Canada to build capacity for newcomer integration through Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs). These coordinating bodies bring together key community actors to collaborate, and plan around newcomer needs and foster welcoming and inclusive communities.

Impacts to Settlement Program Funding
• The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan introduced lower admission targets leading to a reduction in Settlement Program funding over the next three years.
• Additionally, the government launched a Comprehensive Expenditure Review (CER) in 2025, directing most departments to identify up to 15% in savings over the next three fiscal years, including IRCC. Departments must begin implementing CER measures immediately to ensure they are in place for the 2026–2027 fiscal year.

Changes to Length of Eligibility
• As set out in Budget 2025, these savings will partially come from reducing the length of eligibility for economic class immigrants and from finding efficiencies in program delivery.
• Beginning April 1, 2026, economic immigrants (including their accompanying family members) will have access to settlement services for six years from the date they became a permanent resident. As of April 1, 2027, eligibility for economic immigrants will be reduced to five years from the date of permanent residence.
• These changes ensure that resources remain focused on newcomers during their initial years in Canada, when the need for integration support is most critical, while continuing to support recent arrivals in overcoming barriers to successful integration into Canadian society.

Supporting Francophone Immigration Priorities

• In line with the Policy on Francophone Immigration launched in 2024, the Department continues to strengthen its support for the successful settlement, resettlement, and integration of a growing number of French-speaking and bilingual newcomers in Francophone minority communities through the Francophone Integration Pathway.

• This work is supported by initiatives such as the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative; a strategy designed to enhance support for French-speaking immigrant women; and targeted investments in language training tailored to the needs of Francophone minority communities.

• Over the course of the current funding cycle (2025-2028), IRCC is investing approximately $277 million in Francophone programming through its base settlement funding, complemented by temporary investments received through the Official Languages Action Plan.

• This fiscal year, the Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration invested approximately $13 million under the Francophone Immigration Support Program (FISP) to support innovative projects aimed at reducing barriers to Francophone immigration and enhancing the vitality of Francophone and Acadian communities as well as strengthening their economic and demographic growth.

• In alignment with the flagship measures of the Policy on Francophone Immigration, IRCC will continue to support the 13 Réseaux en immigration francophone (RIF) to attract, recruit, welcome, and integrate French-speaking newcomers in Francophone and Acadian communities.

• As changes to length of eligibility are implemented, IRCC is committed to applying them in a manner that takes into account official languages obligations and the unique integration needs of French-speaking newcomers. Considerations such as accessibility and continuity, as well as early connection with Francophone communities are informing work under the Settlement Program Renewal.

Language Training Services

• IRCC prioritizes funding for Stage 1 language training, which provides basic language skills to support newcomers’ integration into their communities and the workforce, and helps them attain their citizenship goals. These services enable newcomers to access essential services, conduct daily activities, and participate in their children’s education. This also includes extensive supports for newcomers with literacy needs.

• As a result of lower funding levels during the current funding cycle, Stage 2 Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) and Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada (CLIC) – which provide advanced language training – will be phased out by September 2026.

• Clients with high intermediate and advanced language levels (above CLB/NCLC 4) have a wider range of options for language learning available to them outside of the federally funded settlement context, such as self-directed online learning, services funded by provinces and territories, as well as post-secondary programs.

Employment-Related Services and Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Supports

• Employment-related Services help immigrants and refugees overcome newcomer-specific barriers to entering the labour market. These services support clients in gaining the skills, knowledge, and connections they need to secure employment that matches their experience and career goals.

• Enhanced supports for foreign credential recognition (FCR) help newcomers make informed decisions about their career pathways in Canada, understand licensing requirements, and navigate the processes required to work in regulated occupations.

• IRCC works in tandem with ESDC, and with PTs to align programming related to FCR ensuring complementarity and reducing duplication. There are ongoing coordinated efforts to streamline services to improve information and knowledge of FCR and help newcomers make informed decisions about their life in Canada, pre and post arrival.

Mental Health and Well-Being Supports for Newcomers
• While health care is a provincial and territorial responsibility, federally funded settlement services also offer newcomers a number of complementary non-clinical mental health and well-being supports.
• Case Management services support newcomer well-being through tailored settlement plans and coordinated referrals to both settlement and community services, such as mental health services.
• To enhance existing settlement mental health and well-being supports, new well-being navigation activities were introduced in 2025 as a dedicated support for newcomers to find resources and information on the Canadian health care system.
• The Department also funds health sector organizations, including the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, to help institutions such as hospitals and community health centers better address newcomers’ mental health needs.

Supporting Specific Populations
• Equity remains central to our work. We are enhancing Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ARDEI) supports through targeted staff training, clearer and more accessible Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) guidance, and improved resources. These efforts aim to strengthen the integration of equity commitments in funding decisions, including support for Francophone, Indigenous, and racialized communities.
• Targeted programming and supports are available to address the unique barriers to integration faced by specific newcomer populations – including 2SLGBTQI+ populations, racialized newcomers, women, seniors, youth, persons with disabilities, newcomers experiencing sexual and gender-based violence, or those in need of mental health supports. This contributes to departmental commitments to GBA Plus, Anti-Racism, and Gender Equality.

In 2024-25, nearly 690,000 newcomers accessed IRCC-funded settlement services. Of these, 69% of French-speaking newcomers were served by Francophone service providers, up from 63% in 2023.

If pressed on funding cuts:

• IRCC is sensitive to the impact these funding decisions may have on organizations, their staff and the newcomers they support. When 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.
• The Settlement Program will continue to prioritize support for the most vulnerable clients and recent arrivals, ensuring consistent access to services across the country and supporting their early and effective economic and social integration into Canada.