Funding for local immigrant services abruptly discontinued
Long-term federal funding has been cut to qathet’s only immigrant services program
Long-time federal funding for Lift Community Service’s (Lift’s) Immigrant Services program has been abruptly discontinued, the nonprofit organization announces. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has denied funding renewal applications to Lift and dozens of other immigrant services programs throughout the province, with the stated purpose of reducing the country’s immigrant population over the next three years.
“This funding decision is going to have a devastating effect on the whole community,” says Lift’s Community Resources Manager, Jessica Colasanto. “Our services are a lifeline to local immigrants and helps them contribute to and thrive in qathet.” Jessica explains that IRCC funding, which funds programs supporting permanent residents, makes up 85% of Lift’s immigrant services funding. “Our provincial funding, which makes up the remaining 15%, is intended to cover anything that IRCC funding does not cover.” Without federal funding, Lift will have to dramatically scale back the services it has been providing for the past 14 years.
Jessica states that Lift is working on a plan to be able to maintain supports to the hundreds of immigrants it supports each year but expects the organization will be forced to displace staff and transition whatever services they are able to maintain into alternate program sites. Lift is working with community partners to explore opportunities for adapting service delivery to mitigate the impacts of these funding cuts on clients, volunteers, and staff. Jessica’s understanding is that IRCC funding has been prioritized for urban centres, and Lift has been instructed to refer individuals to Courtenay-Comox for support.
“This decision is worrisome on a few levels,” Lift’s Executive Director, Kim Markel, states. “It really speaks to the lack of awareness and responsiveness to the unique needs of remote and rural communities.” Kim notes that beyond English tutoring and documentation support, Lift’s program fosters a sense of community, connection and social resources that soften the cultural shock and isolation that can be especially challenging for immigrants in smaller communities.
“More than that,” Kim continues, “our entire team is distressed by the anti-immigration message this funding decision sends.” Kim estimates that Lift’s immigrant services program supports just a fraction of immigrants in qathet. “I don’t think the general public is aware of how much our local medical, health, childcare and hospitality sectors rely on immigrants.” Lift is already hearing from local immigrants who are trying to decide between trying to stay in Canada or leaving. “These changes in funding and immigration targets will make it harder and harder for immigrants to settle in Canada, and I can’t help but note the irony that most of us are immigrants to this land ourselves.”