Funding cuts devastate programs for young newcomers
April 06, 2011
In December 2010, the federal government announced $53 million in cuts to settlement services — and over 80% (almost $44 million) of that is being pulled out of Ontario.
In December 2010, the federal government announced $53 million in cuts to settlement services — and over 80% (almost $44 million) of that is being pulled out of Ontario. Although the provincial government has stepped in with a $500,000 stabilization fund for the agencies hardest hit, it may not be enough to save the valuable services these groups offer.
Newcomer students will be among the hardest hit by these cuts. Funding for immigrant settlement services in Ontario is being cut by 20%. These cuts have affected numerous programs that serve young people who are new to Canada:
- In Ottawa, the Chinese Community Services Centre lost 80% of its budget, and program cuts included an ESL program for young immigrants (aged 19–30).
- The Ottawa-Carleton School Board may be forced to reduce the number of Multicultural Liaison Officers and eliminate other settlement programs for students.
- Immigration Services of Guelph-Wellington, facing a $72,000 shortfall, must eliminate its LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) program.
- In Toronto, Culturelink, an agency in the diverse Parkdale neighbourhood, which runs a program for Zimbabwean youth, is facing severe shortfalls.
- Newcomer Orientation Week (NOW), which supports newcomer students entering high school by linking them with peer support (other newcomer students who have been in Canada a bit longer), is also facing cuts.
People For Education Viewpoint:
For touching testimonials about the impact of these orientation programs, check out the video clips of NOW program participants, school staff and peer leaders talking about their experiences.
Cuts to province-wide programs such as Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) will hurt some of the most vulnerable students in our schools. Cuts to the Welcome and Information for Newcomers (WIN) program for middle-school students will mean fewer peer leaders per school — one of the key aspects of the program. These peer leaders, students who themselves were newcomers, are given summer employment and a chance to greatly enhance their leadership skills. One teacher commented, “Not one of them stopped being a peer leader, even after the program ended.” They continue to provide support and a friendly contact for the new students throughout the school year.
Newcomers enrich our province, but these students and their families require effective support and programs to ensure they have an equitable chance for success.