BCGEU presses governments to clarify immigrant services funding as deadline looms

BURNABY, BC, March 31, 2014 /CNW/ - With provincially administered immigrant settlement services and ESL training in British Columbia ending on March 31, the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) is calling on the federal and provincial governments to announce how these services will be provided in the coming year.

"Thousands of citizens and service providers rely on these important settlement services," says BCGEU president Darryl Walker. "There's less than a week left before these services and jobs will be shifted to direct federal responsibility, and British Columbians deserve to know how our governments intend to fill this service gap.

"We've already had 15 members laid off due to the transition in funding, with more likely on the way. Our governments can and should do a better job of communicating these service changes in a timely way."

The federal government announced in 2012 that it would not renew the Canada-BC Immigration Agreement, and would take over administration of these services on April 1, 2014. The province of B.C. currently administers immigrant settlement services, including ESL training.

Ottawa issued a call in June 2013 for interested organizations and individuals to apply for funding to provide the services. Since then, no update on service contracts or timeline for roll-out has been announced.

The provincial government has said it will monitor the new federal programs for gaps in service, and has allocated $10.5 million in transition funding for ESL programs at public post secondary institutions. In the past two weeks, the province extended its funding for agencies to provide services to federally ineligible clients, but only for one year.

"Provincial transition funding is both needed and welcome, and will help in the immediate short-term," says Walker. "But what happens to these services after this year?

"We've had no indication that any medium or long-term planning has taken place to date. It's time both levels of government stepped up to the plate and ensured that these important services continue to be available to the public."

SOURCE: B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union

Chris Bradshaw at 604-291-9611 or 604-369-8411