Cuts to settlement and career services have left newcomers in Burnaby confused and not knowing what to do, according to a local non-profit.
On Tuesday, Immigrant Services Society of BC announced cuts to services at its Burnaby location and the total closure of its Langley office after March 31.
Communications director Rebecca Irani told the Burnaby NOW the changes reflect moves by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
"That's not our decision; that's a federal decision," she said in a phone interview.
Irani said the cuts will mean the end of all federal programs delivered by ISSofBC in Burnaby, including Settlement Support Services, Moving Ahead, Connecting Seniors, Immigrant Women Peer Support, Volunteer Community Connections, Job Quest and Business Quest.
Only provincial programs for newcomers (BC Safe Haven, BC Newcomer Support Program and Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants) will continue at the Burnaby office.
The non-profit will refer clients to other local organizations where the federal government may not cut the services, but Irani said some of those organizations' contracts are still being negotiated, and it's unclear how many clients they will be able to absorb when they are.
"People don't know what to do," she said. "It’s confusion."
Some of the federal programs may be offered at other ISSofBC locations in Vancouver and New Westminster, so the non-profit is encouraging clients to check its website for updated information.
English Language LINC classes will continue as usual across all ISSofBC locations, according to a news release.
Irani has only worked at ISSofBC for about three years, but she said some of her colleagues who have been with the organization for more than three decades have told her this is the biggest change they’ve seen.
"Two years ago there were huge increases," she said, "and within two years, the levels have been changed downward significantly, so that Canada's outlook as a country has changed wholesale or full scale within two years."
Irani said the federal government's October Immigration Levels Plan announcement, which included significant reductions in permanent and temporary residents was an "indication that change was coming" across the country, including reductions in services.
With the closure of the Langley location, ISSofBC now has 11 locations in Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Squamish and Prince George.
"Unfortunately, some organizations have been closed down. ISSofBC has not had such severe cuts," Irani said.
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