The research to date has been to support 250,000 immigrants per year, every year, for the last 20 years and into the forseeable future regardless of economic conditions. Endless repitition and duplication here. Close down what is redundant. Duh.
Canada News: Ottawa axes network of immigration research centres - thestar.com
Ottawa axes network of immigration research centres
Published On Tue Feb 28 2012
York University professor Valerie Preston is a director of the Ontario Metropolis Centre, part of a research network on immigration settlement across the country slated to be closed next year.
NICHOLAS KEUNG/TORONTO STAR
Nicholas Keung Immigration Reporter
Ottawa plans to stop funding a research network whose findings have helped improve Canada’s immigration policies and settlement programs, the Star has learned.
The federal government will not renew its $9 million, five-year funding to the five Metropolis research centres in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax when the grant runs out in 2013.
Critics say the cut is another blow to researchers and community groups who have already lost the reliable data gleaned from the mandatory long-form census, which the Conservatives ended in 2010.
“If you want to make policies based on opinions instead of what the facts are, you get rid of the facts,” said John Campey, of Social Planning Toronto, which founded the Ontario centre in 1996, along with United Way Toronto and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), in partnership with three Toronto universities.
Campey believes the federal government is taking steps “to undermine the ability of the government and community to argue a case based on facts, which is truly frightening.”
The federal government initiated the Metropolis network in response to rapid demographic change that left policy-makers out of touch with emerging needs and trends among immigrants.
Its research shed light on many migrant issues and contributed to knowledge about the experiences and contributions of newcomers in all spheres of life, said York University professor Valerie Preston, a director of the Ontario group.
For example, one focus has been on how well immigrants integrate into Canada’s labour market — which brought the issue of recognition of foreign credentials and the engagement of Canadian employers to the forefront.
In response, English-language classes shifted gears to offer more profession-specific language training, and “career bridging” programs were developed to help newcomers get Canadian work experience through job placements.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada said funding for the network is being discontinued following a strategic review to ensure “ongoing value for money and relevance of federal programming.”
“The department has a stronger internal capacity to carry out immigration research than it did when Metropolis was launched,” said immigration spokesperson Nancy Caron.
“Metropolis is far from the only organization that engages in research on immigration issues. CIC does this type of research as well as other government organizations such as Statistics Canada, and of course, several other think tanks such as CD Howe, Fraser (Institute), TD research, etc.”
However, Stephan Reichhold, of the Quebec Metropolis centre, said the network represents a unique collaboration of all levels of government, academics, and immigrant and community groups.
“We are more grounded in the realities. The other think tanks are more quantitative and their research is driven by economics … (they) have one way of thinking,” Reichhold said.
While administrators knew their government funding would not last forever, the need for collaboration remains, said University of British Columbia professor David Ley.
“One of my regrets is this (network) is not easy to put into place. Taking it apart, immigration policy in Canada will be a loser,” said Ley, a founding director of the B.C. Metropolis. “There will be less evidence upon which to base policies.”
Debbie Douglas, OCASI’s executive director said that discontinuing Metropolis “will create a vacuum in research on immigration integration and settlement” that will further hamper the ability of immigrant settlement agencies to make their case for funding to fill service gaps.
The Conservative government has already cut funding for settlement programs by $52 million.
Metropolis’s 14th annual national conference kicks off in Toronto on Thursday, with Immigration Minister Jason Kenney as keynote speaker.
Canada News: Ottawa axes network of immigration research centres - thestar.com
Ottawa axes network of immigration research centres
Published On Tue Feb 28 2012
NICHOLAS KEUNG/TORONTO STAR
Nicholas Keung Immigration Reporter
Ottawa plans to stop funding a research network whose findings have helped improve Canada’s immigration policies and settlement programs, the Star has learned.
The federal government will not renew its $9 million, five-year funding to the five Metropolis research centres in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax when the grant runs out in 2013.
Critics say the cut is another blow to researchers and community groups who have already lost the reliable data gleaned from the mandatory long-form census, which the Conservatives ended in 2010.
“If you want to make policies based on opinions instead of what the facts are, you get rid of the facts,” said John Campey, of Social Planning Toronto, which founded the Ontario centre in 1996, along with United Way Toronto and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), in partnership with three Toronto universities.
Campey believes the federal government is taking steps “to undermine the ability of the government and community to argue a case based on facts, which is truly frightening.”
The federal government initiated the Metropolis network in response to rapid demographic change that left policy-makers out of touch with emerging needs and trends among immigrants.
Its research shed light on many migrant issues and contributed to knowledge about the experiences and contributions of newcomers in all spheres of life, said York University professor Valerie Preston, a director of the Ontario group.
For example, one focus has been on how well immigrants integrate into Canada’s labour market — which brought the issue of recognition of foreign credentials and the engagement of Canadian employers to the forefront.
In response, English-language classes shifted gears to offer more profession-specific language training, and “career bridging” programs were developed to help newcomers get Canadian work experience through job placements.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada said funding for the network is being discontinued following a strategic review to ensure “ongoing value for money and relevance of federal programming.”
“The department has a stronger internal capacity to carry out immigration research than it did when Metropolis was launched,” said immigration spokesperson Nancy Caron.
“Metropolis is far from the only organization that engages in research on immigration issues. CIC does this type of research as well as other government organizations such as Statistics Canada, and of course, several other think tanks such as CD Howe, Fraser (Institute), TD research, etc.”
However, Stephan Reichhold, of the Quebec Metropolis centre, said the network represents a unique collaboration of all levels of government, academics, and immigrant and community groups.
“We are more grounded in the realities. The other think tanks are more quantitative and their research is driven by economics … (they) have one way of thinking,” Reichhold said.
While administrators knew their government funding would not last forever, the need for collaboration remains, said University of British Columbia professor David Ley.
“One of my regrets is this (network) is not easy to put into place. Taking it apart, immigration policy in Canada will be a loser,” said Ley, a founding director of the B.C. Metropolis. “There will be less evidence upon which to base policies.”
Debbie Douglas, OCASI’s executive director said that discontinuing Metropolis “will create a vacuum in research on immigration integration and settlement” that will further hamper the ability of immigrant settlement agencies to make their case for funding to fill service gaps.
The Conservative government has already cut funding for settlement programs by $52 million.
Metropolis’s 14th annual national conference kicks off in Toronto on Thursday, with Immigration Minister Jason Kenney as keynote speaker.
