City of Victoria named as new destination community under the Resettlement Assistance Program

Following the meeting of Big City Mayors, Minister McCallum announced the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria as the first successful applicant under the recent call for proposals to identify new Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) providers across Canada, with more RAP providers expected to be added in the coming weeks.

The City of Victoria will now join 23 other RAP communities across Canada, outside Quebec, offering comprehensive and expanded services to refugees. The RAP supports government-assisted refugees (GARs), blended visa office-referred refugees and other eligible clients when they first arrive in Canada.

It is expected that the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria will begin to support GARs in the coming weeks. This includes providing direct financial support as well as funding immediate and essential services such as language training and job programs; finding appropriate rental housing; and, the ability to secure other specialized supports including medical care, mental health services, and education.

Interested settlement service provider organizations currently funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada are invited to submit applications. This funding process is open ended and more information about the process can be found on our website.

Quote

“This is a great day for Victoria and the refugees who will be destined to their beautiful city and the province of British Columbia. At 24 cities, and with expectations of that number growing, the Resettlement Assistance Program is essential to the successful integration of refugees who now call Canada home.”

Hon. John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick facts

· There are now 24 communities with IRCC-funded service provider organizations (SPOs) in place to provide the services refugees need (outside of Quebec) upon arrival.

Only currently funded settlement SPOs are invited to submit applications for RAP funding. Organizations applying must clearly show they have capacity in their community to offer a wide range of services to refugees including:
Demonstration that longer-term support services for refugees are available in their community;
Ability to deliver broad settlement services, such as language training and job programs;
Other specialized support (e.g. specialized medical care, mental health services, education);
Suitable permanent accommodation; and, more.

Related products

· Backgrounder—Resettlement and settlement services for Government-Assisted Refugees

· News Release—More Support on the Way for Service Providers

Associated link

· Canada.ca/refugees

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Photos of Minister McCallum available at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/photos/index.asp

Contact

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca

Building a stronger Canada: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure the safety and security of Canadians, while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.