Some immigrants are receiving less financial support in Richmond as a result of federal government changes to settlement services.
The problem is more pronounced in a city with a high ratio of newcomers.
This year, the federal government took control of funding for settlement services. The new funding formula is based on intake of immigrants and refugees by each province.
As a whole, B.C. saw a dip in intake last year, so the federal government reduced funding accordingly, by seven per cent.
Another funding reduction of 11 per cent is expected in 2015, as well.
Another problem, cited in a City of Richmond report to city council by head social planner Lesley Sherlock, is that funding is allocated on a year-to-year basis.
Presenting even more problems for non-profit, community service groups is how the federal government has withdrawn funding for certain immigrants.
Sherlock’s report notes funding is no longer available for temporary foreign workers, study permit holders, refugee claimants and Canadian citizens.
Only immigrants with permanent resident status and government-assisted refugees are eligible.
“The successful settlement and integration of immigrants and refugees is vital to the social and economic health of our society,” concludes Sherlock, who asked city council to advocate for provincial funding of the aforementioned ineligible newcomers.
“Many will now have to wait to complete the immigration process before receiving services,” noted Sherlock.
A perceived problem is the fact that while immigrants will be declared landed in one province, they can always move to another, thus skewing the funding formula. More problematic is that immigrants can cluster in certain cities, as is the case in Richmond.
According to city data, an estimated 18,600 immigrants settled in Richmond between 2006 and 2011. Chinese people accounted for 56 per cent of those immigrants while Filipinos accounted for 18 per cent. All in all, 60 per cent of the city’s population was born outside of Canada.
Program funding changes have had a direct impact on the Richmond School District as 2.8 full-time settlement worker positions have been cut as 25 per cent of clients have been deemed ineligible.
As an example of the cuts, international students will no longer receive English as a Second Language courses.
The Richmond News has reported on at least two examples of cuts:
The community service group CHIMO lost settlement funding. CHIMO helps women in crisis. Settlement funding supported helping vulnerable female immigrants.
Meanwhile, the Richmond in 3D troupe lost funding for its self-empowerment theatre workshop — the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program — aimed at engaging immigrant children.
That said, the immigrant service organization S.U.C.C.E.S.S. received more funding.
Richmond Multicultural Community Services continues to provide settlement services as well.
