HANSARD: What happened to caregivers' PR on arrival promised by the government?
Mr. Speaker, Canada's settlement sector is the foundation for social cohesion, nation building and newcomer integration. Over 800 agencies are funded by IRCC to deliver a range of services, such as language classes with child care support, employment and career training, trauma-informed programs, family centres, and so much more. Last year, over 700,000 unique newcomers, primarily made racialized women across Canada outside of Quebec, were served by the sector.
Despite the sector's success, the Liberals are charting a course to massively cut these services. Many organizations have been told that their five-year contracts are not being renewed. Others face a cut of up to 70%. On top of that, a further deficit reduction plan is being levelled at the sector, and terms such as “refocus” are being used to cover up pending cuts to IRCC staffing. This would decimate service delivery and negatively impact the economy. The fallout would be felt for years to come. The NDP is calling on the Liberals to stop blaming newcomers for their failures and to immediately reverse these cuts.
