Immigration and settlement is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial governme... more Immigration and settlement is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial governments in Canada, as set out in the Constitution Act, 1867 and reaffirmed in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, 2001. Constitutionally, nonetheless, it is the federal government that has paramountcy over immigration and settlement, meaning that provincial laws cannot run counter to federal authority. Moreover, historically it has been the federal government that has been the most active regarding involvement in immigration and settlement with provinces playing little to no role in this sphere of activity. Starting in the 1990s, however, the provinces become much more active players in this policy area. Provinces began to view immigration and settlement as increasingly important in shaping the economy and societies of their jurisdictions. Most provinces, including Ontario, now have nomination programs, bi-lateral agreements with the federal government, and are heavily involved in providing their own settlement and integration services for their newcomer population.
This report examines the role of the City of Toronto in immigration policy and settlement and int... more This report examines the role of the City of Toronto in immigration policy and settlement and integration programming. Toronto continues to be the most significant centre in Canada for newcomer settlement and a leading factor behind the rapid population growth of this global city (the fourth largest centre on in North America). Fully 35.9% of the total immigrant population in Canada call Toronto home and the city continues to be a powerful magnet for secondary migration. 46.1% of the city’s population, based on the 2016 Census, is made up foreign-born residents (Praznik and Shields, 2018, p. 4). Toronto is truly a ‘world a city’ (Anisef and Lanfphier, 2003) and is profoundly shaped by the impact of mass migration and the immigrant experience.
This report offers a comprehensive critical literature review of the role of various institutiona... more This report offers a comprehensive critical literature review of the role of various institutional actors in the immigration and settlement process in Canada. The core concept of this report is resilience as it pertains to immigration in Canada, focusing particularly on cities in the major immigrant-receiving provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Resilience has been defined as “the capacity of individuals, communities and systems to survive in the face of stress and shocks, and even transform when conditions require” (Akbar 2017, ii). Successful settlement requires the individual resilience of newcomers in Canada and institutional resilience from the organizations, communities and government systems, which either aid in these processes or fail to do so. These actors are inextricably linked, they stand to benefit where Canadian institutions are strengthened, and made more responsive to the needs of immigrant and refugee communities.
Canada is an international leader in government supported and provided settlement services for it... more Canada is an international leader in government supported and provided settlement services for its immigrant population. The provision of such services is seen as an important part enabling immigrants to more successfully settle and integrate into Canada. Integration is seen as “a two-way process for immigrants to adapt to life in Canada and for Canada to welcome and adapt to the newcomers. Ultimately, the goal of integration is to encourage newcomers to be fully engaged in the economic, social, political, and cultural life of Canada” (IRCC, 2017f, p. 1). Governments in Canada at all levels have an important role in supporting immigrants in this settlement and integration process and in providing a welcoming environment in which newcomers are received by their host society.
Immigration and settlement is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial governme... more Immigration and settlement is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial governments in Canada, as set out in the Constitution Act, 1867 and reaffirmed in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, 2001. Constitutionally, nonetheless, it is the federal government that has paramountcy over immigration and settlement, meaning that provincial laws cannot run counter to federal authority. Moreover, historically it has been the federal government that has been the most active regarding involvement in immigration and settlement with provinces playing little to no role in this sphere of activity. Starting in the 1990s, however, the provinces become much more active players in this policy area. Provinces began to view immigration and settlement as increasingly important in shaping the economy and societies of their jurisdictions. Most provinces, including Ontario, now have nomination programs, bi-lateral agreements with the federal government, and are heavily involved in providing their own settlement and integration services for their newcomer population.
This report examines the role of the City of Toronto in immigration policy and settlement and int... more This report examines the role of the City of Toronto in immigration policy and settlement and integration programming. Toronto continues to be the most significant centre in Canada for newcomer settlement and a leading factor behind the rapid population growth of this global city (the fourth largest centre on in North America). Fully 35.9% of the total immigrant population in Canada call Toronto home and the city continues to be a powerful magnet for secondary migration. 46.1% of the city’s population, based on the 2016 Census, is made up foreign-born residents (Praznik and Shields, 2018, p. 4). Toronto is truly a ‘world a city’ (Anisef and Lanfphier, 2003) and is profoundly shaped by the impact of mass migration and the immigrant experience.
This report offers a comprehensive critical literature review of the role of various institutiona... more This report offers a comprehensive critical literature review of the role of various institutional actors in the immigration and settlement process in Canada. The core concept of this report is resilience as it pertains to immigration in Canada, focusing particularly on cities in the major immigrant-receiving provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Resilience has been defined as “the capacity of individuals, communities and systems to survive in the face of stress and shocks, and even transform when conditions require” (Akbar 2017, ii). Successful settlement requires the individual resilience of newcomers in Canada and institutional resilience from the organizations, communities and government systems, which either aid in these processes or fail to do so. These actors are inextricably linked, they stand to benefit where Canadian institutions are strengthened, and made more responsive to the needs of immigrant and refugee communities.
Canada is an international leader in government supported and provided settlement services for it... more Canada is an international leader in government supported and provided settlement services for its immigrant population. The provision of such services is seen as an important part enabling immigrants to more successfully settle and integrate into Canada. Integration is seen as “a two-way process for immigrants to adapt to life in Canada and for Canada to welcome and adapt to the newcomers. Ultimately, the goal of integration is to encourage newcomers to be fully engaged in the economic, social, political, and cultural life of Canada” (IRCC, 2017f, p. 1). Governments in Canada at all levels have an important role in supporting immigrants in this settlement and integration process and in providing a welcoming environment in which newcomers are received by their host society.
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