By Mata Press Service

Several programs supporting the settlement of immigrants and refugees in British Columbia are facing cuts to federal funding as the Canadian government moves to reduce the number of newcomers permitted into the country.

“We are shocked at these cuts and the devastating effect they will have on immigrants who are trying to build a life for themselves and their families in this country,” said Sandra Lee, Executive Director of Decoda Literacy Solutions.

Lee explained that funding for Decoda’s Immigrant Parents as Literacy Supporters (IPALS) program, along with other immigrant support initiatives across the country, has been eliminated.

“These cuts affect multiple organizations across B.C. Tens of thousands of new immigrants who settle in the province next year, as well as the hundreds of thousands of recent immigrants already here, will have fewer support services to help them succeed,” Lee said in a statement.

For the past 10 years, Decoda’s IPALS program has provided newcomer parents and caregivers with opportunities to improve their language and literacy skills while helping their young children with early literacy activities.

These efforts have supported the successful integration of families into Canadian society. The program operates in 19 communities across B.C., partnering with school districts, settlement organizations, local community groups, and libraries.

“Participating in the IPALS program benefitted my whole family. My children are ready for school, and I am ready to be their teacher at home,” said Simret Tsegay, a parent who immigrated to Canada from Sudan and participated in a Tigrigna-language IPALS program in Burnaby, B.C.

“I am grateful for the program in our language, which made us comfortable understanding and asking questions.”

Similarly, Vancouver Community College’s Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program, which has provided free English classes for immigrants and refugees for 30 years, did not have its funding reinstated.

Last week, over 100 people gathered at Vancouver Community College (VCC) to protest the impending closure of the program. The LINC program at VCC, the largest in Western Canada, is set to lose funding on April 1.

Protesters at the rally warned that the decision would leave vulnerable immigrants without critical support and create a significant enrollment gap that the college would struggle to address.

"The government is abandoning the very people who come here seeking opportunity and hope, leaving them unable to access jobs, education, and essential services," said Katie Nguyen, a LINC student, who spoke to CBC.

"This decision undermines the values of inclusivity and diversity that define our nation."

Nguyen, who moved to Canada from Vietnam six years ago, had planned to complete the Level 8 LINC program to advance her career. However, her second term of classes, scheduled to start in April, will no longer be available.

According to Frank Cosco, president of the VCC Faculty Association, the funding cuts will affect over 800 students, resulting in 30 staff receiving layoff notices. "It's an unprofessional and un-Canadian way to treat students," Cosco said. LINC has been one of the foundational programs at VCC, and this move jeopardizes the college’s future."

Maureen Kelbert, head of VCC’s LINC programs, emphasized the unique college environment the program offers, which other provincial LINC programs cannot replicate.

"If this were a gradual cut, it might be more understandable, but these students need support now," she said.

Federal NDP MP Jenny Kwan, who attended the rally, highlighted the program's critical role in helping newcomers integrate into the workforce, sharing her father’s experience as an example.

"My dad participated in the English language training program here, which enabled him to secure a job. Without that training, he might not have found employment, and who knows what his situation would have been," Kwan told CityNews.

Remote communities are not spared either. In Prince Rupert, the Hecate Strait Employment Development Society has lost all federal funding for its settlement services.

“Prince Rupert has a population of 12,000 people but is as multicultural as Vancouver,” said Karen Sawatzky, Executive Director of the Hecate Strait Employment Development Society. “The federal government doesn't seem to understand that even though they’ve lowered immigration targets, there are still people here who need help and support. We are the only organization in town that offers settlement services. I have no idea where our clients will go for support now.”

The Toronto Star reported that in B.C., more than 20 organizations have been completely defunded, with others facing funding reductions ranging from 15 percent to 75 percent. In Alberta, some groups faced cuts as deep as 35 percent. In Manitoba, at least 12 agencies have lost their entire funding.

In October 2024, the government announced a plan to reduce non-permanent residents by over 900,000 within two years—a significantly more aggressive target than proposed in March. This policy shift follows an unprecedented population surge in 2023 and 2024, which strained housing, infrastructure, and public services.

To curb record-setting population growth triggered by immigration, the government projects that 2.4 million non-permanent residents must either leave or change their status within two years.

During this time, Canada expects to welcome 1.5 million new temporary arrivals, resulting in a net loss of approximately 900,000 non-permanent residents—equivalent to about 2% of the country’s population.

"The resources for settlement services are adjusted based on the number of expected newcomers. With fewer immigrants anticipated, funding has been reduced, leading to fewer service providers," an IRCC spokesperson explained.

However, IRCC noted that $1.2 billion is still earmarked for settlement support in 2024 and 2025, with $155.6 million allocated to British Columbia, including funding for language training programs.