Funding cuts in the federal government has threatened immigrant settlements across the country

The Canadian government has reduced funding for immigrants settling in the country particularly in the province of Ontario, because the money is now needed in the province where the pour of newcomers is growing.

Other provinces like Toronto have recorded low in immigrant settlements, while other parts of the country are settling more. At least 10 Greater Toronto immigrant service agencies have been told by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada that their program funding will not be renewed next year.

Funding cuts also threatens jobs across the country

Settlement agencies which offer language classes, helping in job finding as well as other immigration programs for newcomers are facing a loss of millions in funding. Together with the problem comes hundreds of jobs are also on the line of fire.

In other parts of Canada, Ottawa groups also have been hurt by the $35 million worth of cuts that will be funded into Ontario immigration organizations. The cuts would be boiling into job layoffs during the holidays.

Opposition parties made an action with regards to the situation

The Ontario Immigration officer held an emergency meeting with the management of seven out of ten agencies which would be to ask his federal counterpart to meet with him and reverse the decisions, noting that the defunded organizations are the ethno cultural organizations serving various ethnic communities.

Settlement programs across Canada are being cut a total of $53 million and which excludes the province of Quebec. More than $43 million of the cuts come from Ontario, in which settlement funding for the year 2011 will be down $344 million.

The Canadian government has defended the funding cuts

The Canadian Immigration Minister defended the funding cuts saying that the reason by the federal government for cutting the funds on immigration settlement programs is because more new Canadians are living and are choosing to live in some not so traditional locations. He also stated that the federal money spent helping immigrants adjust to life in Canada needs to be spread evenly across the country.

The Canadian Immigration Minister also stated that there will be some reallocations made resulting from the analysis of the efficiency in the country’s settlement programs.

The federal government’s defense has brought up more opposition

However, the Toronto Liberal MP slammed the cuts stating that he doesn’t think he’s ever seen such a harsh and draconian and inexplicable cut to the most vulnerable people in the midst of the crisis.

The Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council Officer also made an objection to the funding cut, saying that “If they are making the system more efficient or redistributing the money the places where immigration is increasing, fine, but they’re cutting and holding onto the savings and that is just wrong.

The Ontario Council for Agencies Serving Immigrants, which represents 200 settlement organizations across the province, stated that more than have of the announced cuts have a direct impact on groups that have focused their work on radicalized immigrant communities.