Responding to Immigrants’ Responding to Immigrants’ Settlement Needs -The Canadian Settlement Needs -The Canadian

ExperienceExperience

Robert Vineberg

PMC Conference, November 4, 2011

ContentsContents

Pre-ConfederationPost-Confederation to 1914The Interwar PeriodPost World War II to 1974Creation of the Settlement Program Settlement Renewal and DevolutionFunding IssuesModern Settlement Programming

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The Two Way StreetThe Two Way StreetI can scarcely imagine any

obligation which it is more incumbent on Government to fulfill, than that of … securing to … persons disposed to emigrate every possible facility and assistance, from the moment of their intending to leave … to that of their comfortable establishment…

 Lord Durham, 1839

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Pre-ConfederationPre-ConfederationEarly Legislation

Protect the emigrant, protect yourself

◦Quarantine Acts NS – 1761; Lower Canada - 1795

◦Legislation for a landing fee – 1832 All provinces raised money for the sick and

destitute

Emigrant Aid Societies1858 Province of Canada Legislation

First legislation to specifically concerned with immigrants own welfare

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Grosse Ile Quarantine StationGrosse Ile Quarantine StationSecond Class HotelSecond Class Hotel

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Post-Confederation – Post-Confederation – To WW To WW IISorting Out Jurisdictions

◦Dominion-Provincial Conference 1868 Dominion takes control of quarantine

stations Dominion undertakes to prepare national

legislation: immigrants not emigrants

Looking After Immigrants Port of Entry Facilities Immigration Halls Dominion Lands Act Grants to many immigrant aid organizations

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Quebec Port of Entry Quebec Port of Entry c.1890c.1890

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Immigration Hall Immigration Hall Winnipeg c. Winnipeg c. 18901890

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Post-ConfederationPost-Confederation – Interwar – Interwar PeriodPeriod

The 1920s◦Emphasis on Colonization

Homesteading continues

◦Railways Agreements “After Care”

◦Empire Settlement Agreement◦Immigration Halls

continue in large-scale use

Depression and War Immigration comes to a halt Many immigration halls used for unemployed

and then as army barracks during WW II

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Immigration Hall No. 1Immigration Hall No. 1Winnipeg – 1906-1969Winnipeg – 1906-1969

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Post World War II to 1974Post World War II to 1974Settlement Service established 1949

◦focused on employment and matching immigrants overseas to jobs in Canada

Citizenship Branch ◦funds language training and joint co-

ordinating committees in many cities 1966: Manpower & Immigration

Settlement Service disbanded and programs transferred to Manpower division & Secretary of State

Language training only for workers

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The Settlement Program - The Settlement Program - 11

◦1974 – Cabinet realises mistake of 1966 and creates “Settlement Program” M&I assumes funding for settlement NGOs. 1974 - ISAP program $810,000

◦Indochinese Refugee Movement: Inspires government to rethink settlement Vastly increased need for NGOs and funding 1984 - HOST program

◦1986 - Settlement Language Training Program (SLTP) for adults not destined to labour market

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The Settlement Program - The Settlement Program - 221992 – Settlement “comes home”

Settlement moved to Immigration Division Occupational language merged with SLTP to

create LINC

1991-1999 – Some provinces assume responsibility for settlement

1991 Quebec 1999 BC and Manitoba

New Programming

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The Settlement Program - The Settlement Program - 332004-07 New Programming

Canadian Orientation Abroad - 1998 Enhanced Language Training – 2004 Anti-Racism - 2005 Foreign Credential Referral Office- 2007 Canadian Immigrant Integration Program - 2007

2005-08 – Vastly increased funding Canada-Ontario Agreement Expectations in other provinces

first denied but then met

2008 – New Terms and Conditions unified Settlement program

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A Few ConclusionsA Few ConclusionsSettlement Services

Initiated to protect the resident Canadians Then transformed into efforts to retain

immigrants coming to CanadaIntegration is a two-way street

The best settlement program will fail in the absence of a welcoming community.

This is a lesson that Canada has learned, and then forgotten, only to rediscover again, several times through its history.

Settlement and integration are ‘whole of government’ activities

NGOs are essential to program delivery

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Former Immigration Hall Former Immigration Hall Edmonton 2010Edmonton 2010

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Photo CreditsPhoto Credits Cover: Old Immigration Hall, Edmonton, Library and

Archives of Canada (LAC) – C042729 Slide 5: Grosse Isle 2nd Class Hospital c1905 – LAC -

c079029 Slide 7: Immigration Sheds at Port of Quebec– LAC –

a021357 Slide 8: Winnipeg Immigration Hall c1890 – LAC – c2334 Slide 10: Immigration Hall No. 1 Winnipeg, (Dominion

Immigration Hall), Archives of Manitoba - N21668 Slide 16: Edmonton Immigration Hall 1931-1971, Frank

Dumont – CIC Edmonton

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