1. The Settlement and Integration Vision
Vision Statement
Successful settlement and integration benefits newcomers and Canada by building a more inclusive, culturally diverse and productive nation. This is achieved through a shared effort that connects Canadians and newcomers, and helps both reach their economic and social potential economic and social potential.
Components of the Vision
This vision can only be achieved with the collaboration of all levels of government as well as civil society. This promotes a sense of shared community responsibility to be welcoming and responsive to newcomers’ ongoing and emerging needs as well as sharing in the wealth of their talents and experiences.
The realization of this vision also relies on the cultural and legal foundations that make Canada unique in the world and to which Canadians proudly identify, namely protection against discrimination and the promotion of diversity. Implementation of international conventions, laws and policies such as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Multiculturalism Act helps to: address systemic barriers to integration including discrimination based on reasons such as race, gender, disability or sexual orientation; celebrate the cultural richness that newcomers bring; and ultimately help newcomers make Canada their home.
Programming that builds on and strengthens newcomers’ abilities, as well as addressing barriers that newcomers face, so that they are more able to contribute to, and participate in, all aspects of Canadian society. For example:
Speaking one of Canada’s official languages is the gateway to newcomers fully participating and contributing to life in Canada;
Connections between newcomers and Canadians, including Indigenous communities, add to the social and cultural richness of society; and
By gaining employment (including entrepreneurship), newcomers help to build a stronger economy and society.
Francophone newcomers have the opportunity to live and work in French, thereby contributing to linguistic duality and the vitality of official language minority communities.
Services will be delivered in a environment of continuous improvement, providing services that maximize outcomes and results. This means:
Providing the right supports at the right time and offering dedicated programming for the most vulnerable and marginalized.
Fostering a distinct professional settlement sector by investing in capacity and knowledge building, as well as innovative and experimental practices and projects, to ensure the most effective use of public funds.
Settlement and Integration falls within the continuum of managed migration. This process begins with selection of immigrants and refugees, and involves facilitating the arrival of all newcomers to maximize their contributions to Canada. The continuum is completed with the integration of newcomers as fully participating citizens in an inclusive society that holds equal opportunity for all.