In late March, Ontario province unveiled a $768,000 investment in the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) aimed at tackling employment barriers for women. The funding will support CCMW’s project, titled “Addressing Barriers to Employment for Muslim Women,” with a specific focus on enhancing recruitment, retention, and advancement in non-traditional and emerging economic sectors.
This investment reflects the commitment to addressing gender inequalities in Canada and underscores the importance of organizations nationwide working towards eliminating barriers faced by women. This becomes particularly significant for newcomer women in Canada, who continue to encounter challenges in achieving equitable representation in the Canadian workforce.
Federal:
The Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers various federal programs and services to support women immigrating to Canada. These include the Women at Risk (WAR) program, which is part of the Urgent Protection Program (UPP), and the Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot (RNWP) program.
WAR program:
The IRCC’s Women at Risk (WAR) program provides assistance to women who require immediate protection or who are vulnerable but may not have evident settlement potential. It should be noted that women enrolled in this program, along with their dependents, must still meet all the necessary Canadian admission criteria, including medical and security examinations, to receive aid through the Urgent Protection Program (UPP).
RNWP program:
The Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot (RNWP) program aims to enhance settlement services and support for racialized newcomer women in Canada, focusing on improving their employment outcomes and career advancement. This program contributes to creating more equal and inclusive economic opportunities for racialized newcomer women in the country.
Starting from January 2023:
IRCC has announced additional funding for the Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot Program to further strengthen its impact and support for this specific group.
Provincial/Territorial:
Each Canadian province and territory provides services through local organizations that assist newcomer women with various aspects of settling in Canada. These services range from day-to-day support to finding employment, preparing for citizenship tests, and even facilitating mentorship opportunities.
For a comprehensive list of organizations catering to newcomer women in each province and territory (excluding Quebec), the Government of Canada’s website provides detailed information and resources.
British Columbia:
- Women’s Economic Council (Vancouver): A registered charity dedicated to advancing women’s participation in resilient and inclusive economies, with a focus on addressing systemic barriers faced by women.
- Umoja Operation Compassion Society (Surrey): A charity offering specialized programs to support recent immigrants and refugees, including services tailored to assist immigrant women in their daily lives and job search.
Alberta:
- Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association: An organization providing comprehensive programs to assist immigrant women in various aspects of daily life, employment, mentorship, and language training specific to job requirements.
- Making Changes Employment Association of Alberta (Calgary): A dedicated organization creating a safe space for women and empowering them with the skills and resources needed to secure employment and build their futures.
Saskatchewan:
- International Women of Saskatoon – LEAD (Saskatoon): Offers a range of services, including employment support, job search assistance, language testing, settlement resources, and community engagement opportunities for newcomer women in Saskatchewan.
Manitoba:
- Manitoba Start – Employment Solutions for Immigrants Inc. (Winnipeg): An employment services agency providing guidance and support to immigrants, including specialized programs catering to women, to facilitate successful integration and job placement.
Ontario:
- Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services (Toronto): A service provider focused on improving health outcomes for vulnerable immigrants and refugees, addressing systemic barriers and poverty.
- Immigrant Women Services Ottawa: Offers crisis intervention, counseling, interpretation, translation, settlement, and integration services to immigrant women in Ottawa.
Quebec:
- Women’s Centre of Montreal: An organization supporting recent newcomer women throughout the immigration process, offering services to facilitate settlement, integration, and individual or group activities to enhance support and empowerment.
Newfoundland and Labrador:
- Association for New Canadians (St. John’s): A community-based organization dedicated to delivering settlement and integration services to immigrants and refugees. Their programs cover various aspects of immigrant integration, including settlement information, orientation, language learning, skills development, and employment support.
Nova Scotia:
- YWCA Halifax: Part of the nationwide YWCA network, YWCA Halifax focuses on promoting the leadership, health, and wellness of women and girls. They work towards advancing women’s economic and housing security, providing quality and accessible early learning and childcare, and actively working to end violence against women and girls.
Prince Edward Island:
- Immigrant & Refugee Services Association PEI Inc. (Charlottetown): This organization offers a wide range of services for Canadian newcomers, including language programs and assistance in finding employment.
New Brunswick:
- Northwest Resource Centre for Newcomers Inc. (Edmundston): A non-profit organization committed to facilitating the social, economic, educational, and cultural integration of newcomers settling in the region. They provide resources, learning and mentoring services, as well as networking and support programs.
Nunavut:
- Carrefour Nunavut (Iqaluit): A French-language organization offering services tailored to job seekers, new immigrants, current workers, and entrepreneurs in Nunavut.
Northwest Territories:
- NWT Literacy Council (Yellowknife): A not-for-profit and registered charitable organization that promotes and supports literacy and essential skills development in all official languages of the Northwest Territories.
Yukon:
- Association franco-yukonnaise (Whitehorse): A French-language organization providing services for newcomer women, including assistance in navigating daily life and finding employment opportunities.
