Metropolis British Columbia, formerly RIIM (Research on Immigration and Integration in the Metropolis) , has issued a 2nd call for proposals and expects to fund 10 new research projects. See the website for details. Deadline is June 6th.
Category: Funding
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Latest on proposed changes to IRPA
The Standing Committee on Finance received a report from the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration entitled “Consideration of the subject matter of Part 6 of Bill C-50”.
Dated May 15th, the report recommends that the Citizenship and Immigration Committee undertake a study on the immigration system in order to address identified challenges. The report reminds the Committee that their previous report Reclaiming Citizenship for Canadians informed Bill C-37, the ‘Lost Canadians’ bill.
The Conservative Party of Canada issued a dissenting opinion, arguing that the proposed changes to immigration legislation will in fact meet the backlog issues and that refutes much of the charges made by opponents to the proposed changes. An excerpt:“The current system is especially problematic, since in a few short years, all of our net labour growth will come from immigration. These systemic flaws undermine Canada’s ability to meet our immigration goals, particularly the goal of providing for Canada’s economic and family reunification needs. Urgent action is required. That is why changes to the IRPA were included in Budget 2008. Advantage Canada (2006) identified that Canada needs the most flexible workforce in the world – an issue that is critical to Canada’s future”.
Neither the dissenting opinion or the report specifically address children. Should the committee agree to undertake a study, let’s ensure that the study identifies issues and develops solutions that will work for immigrant children and their families.
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SSHRC Strategic knowledge clusters – 11 new research initiatives
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) announced funding of 2.1 Million for 11 new Strategic Knowledge Clusters last week. Funding continues for the next 7 years.
In announcing the funding, the Minister of Industry, the Honourable Jim Prentice said “Canadian scholars and researchers will continue to produce world-class results so that we, as a country, may use this knowledge to enhance the quality of life of all Canadians“.
Chad Gaffiled, President of SSHRC said “These talented researchers will help advance understanding of complex issues in our society and inform decision makers in government, business and communities across Canada”.
Of the 11 newly funded initiatives, these 3, of interest and relevance to the Early Childhood Working Group and Canadian Coalition for Immigrant Children and Youth:Canadian Forum for Public Research on Heritage, with Luc Noppen, Université du Québec à Montréal
Canadian Refugee Research Network, with Susan McGrath, York University
Strategic Knowledge Cluster on Early Childhood Development, with Michel Bovin, Université Laval.The three are clearly linked and we look forward to the work undertaken and especially to the linkages that must be made among them, if the knowledge clusters are to, as Gaffield says “advance understanding of complex issues” and as the Minister of Industry emphasized “to enhance the quality of life of all“.
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Call for expressions of interest: Ontario region of Canadian Heritage
The Ontario Region of Canadian Heritage is calling for expressions of interest that align with the recently released guidelines for funding from the Multicultural Program.
The Multicultural Program in Ontario will focus on initiatives that promote:
– Civic participation
– Cross-cultural understanding
– Institutional change.
Projects should align with the following priorities:
– Support the economic, social and cultural integration of new Canadians and cultural communities
– Facilitate programs such as mentorship, volunteerism, leadership and civi education among at-risk cultural youth
– Promote inter-cultural understanding and Canadian values (democracy, freedom, human rights and rule of law) through community initiatives with the objective of addressing issues of cultural social exclusion.
Funding preferences will be given to projects that involve multiple partners and that:
– Focus on action and measurable results leading to sustainable and lasting changes
– Involve the broad community (community-based, neighourhood-based and/or coalitions that are inclusive)
– Include other sources of funding, including cash and in-kind contributions.
Interested parties are invited to submit a pqa1 by Fri. May 23/08 to multi-on@pch.gc.ca or to the attention of Rocky Serkowney, Program Officer, Department of Canadian Heritage, Ontario Region, 150 John St., Suite 400, Toronto ON M5V 3T6.
Need more info? In the GTA, contact Rocky Serkowney at 416.952.2651. Outside of the GTA, contact Mimi Lo at 519.645.5190. -
Graduate student awards from CERIS
The Joint Centre of Excellence in Immigration and Settlement (CERIS), the Ontario Metropolis Centre, is accepting applications from Ontario graduate students (Masters and Doctoral levels) for a graduate student research award. The award is to support research related to immigration and settlement that is Greater Toronto Area or Ontario-focused. Ten awards of up to $500 are available.
See the CERIS website for information and the application form.
Deadline is May 20/08. -
More funding announcements from the federal government
Following on a post dated Fri Feb 22/08, more funding announcements from the federal government, including:
Feb 29/08 “Government of Canada announces funding to help newcomers settle in London, Ontario”.
March 7/08 “Government of Canada announces funding to help newcomers settle in Toronto“. This funding was set for the YMCA Korean Community Services and the Korean Canadian Women’s Association KCWA Family and Social Services.
March 7/08 “Government of Canada announces funding to Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association“. -
Manitoba CBC diversity scholarships
The Manitoba CBC are in their 5th year of awarding $500 scholarships to high school students in their final year of high school and planning to pursue journalism studies.
Eligible students are “youth who come from an ethnic or ancestral background that is a visible minority or Aboriginal” and who can best answer the essay question: “What is the role of the CBC in our community?“. -
Federal budget, 2008
The National Post is reporting that today’s federal budget has “something for everyone”, including this – for immigrants:
“$22-million over two years to modernize and speed up the immigration system. Plans include: ‘changes will be made to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to improve the immigration process. It is not fair for prospective immigrants to wait for years before being considered, and it is not desirable to wait that long for the immigrants the country needs’.”
Meanwhile, The Globe and Mail is running an op-ed by Perrin Beatty, Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Claire Morris, Association of Universities and Colleges Canada and on what kinds of immigrants Canada needs:
“Streamlining our immigration process to make Canada a more attractive option for skilled immigrants will be important. However, Canada cannot count on maintaining current levels of immigration of advanced degree-holders to meet future labour market needs. In an increasingly knowledge-based world, competition for highly-educated immigrants is growing in developed nations and emerging economies alike.
Consequently, more needs to be done to attract the best and the brightest international graduate students who remain critical to fuelling the country’s pipeline of highly qualified personnel”.Immigrant children? Not in the op-ed. Not in the budget. To access the budget documents, visit the budget.gc.ca website.
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CIC & MCI joint call for proposals, Ontario
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI) are seeking proposals to strengthen the role of local and regional communities in serving and integrating immigrants through Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs).
The overall objective of the call is to identify groups that will coordinate and enhance the current service delivery network (avoiding duplication). Strategic partnerships between service providers and organizations is encouraged.
The funders objectives are to:- Improve access to, and coordination of, effective services that facilitate immigrant settlement and integration
- Improve access to the labour market for immigrants
- Strengthen local and regional awareness and capacity to integrate immigrants
- Establish or enhance partnerships and participation of multiple stakeholders in planning, and coordinating the delivery of integration services (including settlement, language training, labour market integration), especially current services supported by the federal government through CIC or through MCI.
For more info, see the page at settlement.org or the MCI web-page.
2 Deadlines: March 7, 2008 and May 6, 2008. -
CIC call for proposals, Ontario
Citizenship and Immigration Canada have issued a call for proposals for projects that enhance or support Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program (ISAP) services in Ontario.
The call is seeking community, local, regional, or provincial projects that focus on:- Developing a campaign for the promotion of settlement services and outreach to those in need of settlement services
- Developing and / or distributing of information products to settlement workers in Ontario
- The development of and / or dissemination of newcomer information products
- The development of and implementation of improved program delivery tools
- The design and delivery of conferences, workshops and other training events for settlement workers
- Producing studies, reports and recommendations relevant to settlement and integration
- Other activities or products which will result in improvements to ISAP.
Deadline is September 1, 2008.
For more info, see the page at settlement.org.