Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
The Province is taking a number of steps to prepare for the arrival, resettlement and integration of refugees in B.C.
Supported by $500,000 through the $1 million Refugee Readiness Fund, the government will fund five Refugee Response Teams to proactively plan for the settlement of refugees in their communities. The teams will have representatives from the refugee service provider community: settlement organizations, private sponsors, churches, educators, health care providers and employers. Teams are anticipated in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, Okanagan and Cariboo, however locations are contingent on where refugees ultimately settle.
The remaining $500,000 will be provided to the Immigrant Services Society of B.C. (ISSofBC) to:
- Develop an online hub to connect private sponsors, settlement workers, counsellors, and other service providers throughout the province to the information they need to support refugees.
- Track volunteer offers, in-kind donations and housing and employment leads.
- Set up a range of supports for clinicians caring for traumatized refugees, including a new telephone consultation line and a trauma needs assessment tool.
- Provide workshops and support to the Refugee Response Teams.
ISSofBC is currently the only service provider in B.C. that provides the full suite of federally-funded Resettlement Assistance Program services to government-assisted refugees. They can ensure provincially-funded services are aligned with federal services.
The Province has also identified further initiatives to support successful settlement of refugees in B.C.
(flickr.com) Through the Canada-BC Job Grant, up to $1.5 million will support skills training to assist refugees and new Canadians to gain employment, in partnership with sector/industry associations and employers. The first stream of $1.0 million will focus specifically on refugees while the second $500,000 stream will be open to refugees, protected persons entitled to work in Canada, and new immigrants (arrived within the last five years). Funding is focused on three key areas:
- Job readiness training, including specialized language supports and cultural training to prepare for working in British Columbia;
- Job match services to link refugees with employers ready to hire new Canadians
- Job specific training – up to $10,000 per person for job specific skills training that is cost shared between federal and provincial governments (cover two-thirds of the costs) and employers (cover the remaining one-third the costs).
(flickr.com) The Province will also invest $2.6 million in project based language training throughout B.C. that will support refugees and other immigrants. $1.27 million will be provided to community organizations, professional associations and post-secondary institutions across the Lower Mainland to provide training for recent immigrants to help them overcome language barriers faced when seeking employment. Further details as well as specific locations will continue to be outlined within the coming weeks.
In addition, the Provincial Health Services Authority is hiring and training 30 additional interpreters dedicated to languages spoken by refugee populations.
Moving forward, the ministry will continue to engage with settlement communities throughout the province to ensure they have the capacity to support any incoming refugees.
(flickr.com) Quotes:
Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour, Shirley Bond –
“Refugees coming to British Columbia are escaping unimaginable hardship. We will do everything we can to ensure their transition to Canada is as successful as possible. I’ve been incredibly impressed by the offers of support from across our province and I’m confident we will be able to welcome these new Canadians with open arms.
“Our announcements today complement supports provided by the Federal government, and will help build capacity in communities where refugees are making their new home.”
Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services and Surrey-Tynehead MLA Amrik Virk –
“My community has welcomed many refugees over the years and we’re looking forward to welcoming more. We know that newcomers are eager to build a new start for their families and we’re going to be ready to help.”
Chief executive officer, ISSofBC, Patricia Woroch –
“I want to thank the Province for working with us to build these Refugee Response Teams. We look forward to working with communities to build their capacity and to supporting other refugee and immigration providers to settle them successfully.”
Quick Facts:
- Wait periods and premiums for Medical Service Plan coverage are waived for all refugees health (MSP)
- Each refugee student in public school in B.C. is funded from the Province’s pupil funding formula.
- All refugees are able to access the Employment Program of BC
- In addition, refugees are eligible to receive:
- Child care subsidy
- B.C. early childhood tax benefit – up to $55 per month per child under age 6.
- B.C. basic family bonus – up to $111 per child per month when combined with the National Child Benefit Supplement
- Student aid
- In 2015, the B.C. government will provide nearly $1.7 million to engage cultural groups, promote multiculturalism and fight racism in B.C.
Learn More:
For more information about Federal supports for Government Assisted Refugees go to: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/ip/ip03-part2-eng.pdf
For more information on the Canada Job Grant and how to apply, please visit: www.workbc.ca
