OTTAWA, March 19 /CNW Telbec/ - Most recent immigrants are struggling to
catch up with other Canadians, while underfunded municipalities are struggling
to meet the day-to-day needs of newcomers and respond to changing patterns in
immigrant settlement.
These are among the principal insights of the fifth theme report in the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Quality of Life series,
"Immigration and Diversity in Canadian Cities and Communities," released
today. The report compares social and economic conditions for immigrants and
non-immigrants between 2001 and 2006 in the urban communities making up the
Quality of Life Reporting System (QOLRS).
"This report shows we need a new collaborative approach to immigration
policy and settlement," said FCM president Jean Perrault, mayor of Sherbrooke,
Que. "Immigrants make a vital contribution to Canada and to our communities,
but they face many challenges. Municipal governments are where immigrants go
first for help, but we are not consulted on immigration policies or programs
and we do not have the resources to provide the needed services. It's time for
a change."
The report found that changing trends in immigration are placing new
strains on larger and smaller communities. The major cities included in QOLRS
are finding it more difficult to meet their local labour needs as a growing
number of well-educated and highly skilled immigrants are choosing to settle
elsewhere. Meanwhile, these same cities continue to bear a disproportionate
share of the costs of assisting refugees and other immigrants with special
challenges.
At the same time, many smaller cities and suburban communities are facing
an influx of newcomers, who often require additional municipal services. These
newcomers will help create more diverse communities and new economic growth,
but they will also place new demands on municipal governments that are
struggling to fund existing responsibilities from a limited property tax base.
"Current economic conditions are going to bring a new urgency to this
issue, "said Perrault. "Like many other Canadians, newcomers will find it more
difficult to find and keep employment, which will contribute to other social
and family issues. They will need municipal services right when municipalities
are struggling with the recession and the growing needs of their communities.
These challenges are playing out at the local level, yet local government
has no voice in immigration policy. Municipalities must be treated as partners
if Canada is going to meet its labour needs, give new Canadians the
opportunity to succeed in their new home, and remain a country of choice for
the immigrants we will need to compete economically in the future."
"If we want to come out of this recession with the skilled workforce we
need, it's time to coordinate immigration policy and services and provide
municipalities with the funding to meet immigrants' needs."
About the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM):
FCM is the national voice of municipal governments, established in 1901,
representing the interests of municipalities on policy and program matters
that fall within federal jurisdiction. With more than 1,775 members
representing 90 per cent of Canadians, FCM members include Canada's largest
cities, small urban and rural communities, and 18 provincial and territorial
municipal associations.
For further information: visit www.fcm.ca/qolrs. To arrange interviews:
Maurice Gingues, (613) 907-6395, mgingues@fcm.ca
