The Impact of Changes to Settlement Service Eligibility on Newcomers in Small, Medium and Remote Communities

Since April 1, 2026, the federal government has limited IRCC-funded settlement services for economic immigrants and their dependents to six years after they gain permanent residency, reducing this to five years on April 1, 2027. This aims to encourage earlier use of language training and employment support, and other services. The Settlement Program will also face budget reductions. These changes create unique challenges for newcomers in small, medium, and remote communities. Workshop speakers will discuss the impact of these changes and how service providers are adapting. This workshop is being conducted in English. Closed captioning in French will be provided.