Windsor Essex
Local Immigration
Partnership
Making Possibilities Happen.
Michelle Suchiu
Community Connector
Renee Marentette
Project Assistant
What is a Local Immigration
Partnership (LIP)?
The mechanism through which Citizenship and Immigration
Canada (CIC) supports the development of communitybased partnerships and planning around the needs of
newcomers.
Our goal: Create a community where newcomers and
citizens can achieve a higher quality of life and reach their
full potential.
Who is on the Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership?
• Employers and Employment-related organizations (Chambers of
Commerce, Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation and Workforce
WindsorEssex, Bonduelle, Highline Mushrooms, Great West Life, etc.)
• Community & Social Services (Organizations
from Settlement, Language,
Library. Child Care, Legal, Poverty, CAS & Food Security sectors )
• Education (English and French, elementary, secondary, post-secondary)
• Government (Municipal, Regional, Provincial, Federal)
• Healthcare
• Public Safety
• Housing
• Ethno-Cultural groups
Who funds the work?
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
Who manages the work?
• A council of key local community members
• A small staff that coordinates and provides
organizational support
Where we started...
October
2008
Assisted in
developing a greater
understanding of
newcomer needs and Provided support to
Established a
program delivery
services
partnership council
LIP initiated by the federal
government
Oversee the development:
• Local settlement strategy
• Targeted action plan
• Agreement with City of
Windsor (CDHS)
• Collecting and reporting newcomer service
delivery
• Recommending improvements to program
and service delivery
• Conducting research and program
assessments
• Working with other service providers and
funders
• Building or enhancing the capacity of
service providers to delivery services to
newcomers
January
2009
First Windsor Essex
Local Immigration
Partnership Council
Meeting
April
2010
September
2010
Release of a Community
Plan to Promote the
Settlement and
Integration of Immigrants
in Windsor and Essex
County
Follow-up report submitted
Moving Forward...
• A governance model that
allowed transition from
research advisory group to
a community planning
body
• Action plan
• Strategic priorities
Strategic Priorities
Strategic
Priority #1
Strategic
Priority #2
Strategic
Priority #3
Ways to improve
access to and
coordination of
immigrant integration
services
Ways to improve
labour market
outcomes for
immigrants
Ways to strengthen
local awareness and
capacity to integrate
immigrants
All work flows from these Priorities
Value of Local Immigration Partnership
to the County of Essex
•
Enhances capacity to understand and meet needs of newcomer
residents
 Regional Language Data – Emergency response
•
Work with stakeholders to find solutions to issues affecting newcomers
 Newcomer Health Access Strategy – coordinated the development
of a business case submitted to the Erie St. Clair LHIN
•
Is an asset to the region in the diversification of regional economy in
and meeting labour market shortages
Objective : Maximize quality of life to encourage permanent settlement
by newcomers in Windsor Essex
Participant in Federal and Provincial Discussions
Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership is:
•
An AMO representative on the Municipal Integration Committee, cochaired by Director General CIC and Deputy Ministry MCI
• Invited to Ministerial round tables by CIC,MIC and CMHC to discuss
needs of immigrants in Windsor Essex
• An invitee at conferences such as Vision 2020 – National
Settlement Conference and Pathways to Prosperity 2013 Annual
Conference (Nov 2013)
• In a position to assemble and bring back information which impacts
regional service delivery (i.e., changes to the Interim Federal Health
Care and the upcoming changes to National Immigration selector
and admission process)
Enhances Corporate Capacity to Understand and
Meet Needs of Newcomer Residents
• Created the SPICE Committee where settlement service providers
meet with Employment & Social Services to improve Ontario Works
service delivery for newcomers
• Work with partners in the delivery of Cultural Diversity Training to
over 1,000 nurses, social workers and University students
• Participated in the Windsor Essex Housing & Homelessness
Consultations
• Contribute to planning bodies related to regional issues including
Public Safety, Child, Youth and Family System Integration
Committee
Cont’d
Finds Solutions
• Created the Global Talent Guide which demonstrates to employers
the benefits of hiring newcomers
• Worked in cooperation with Go For Health, the Windsor Essex
County Health Unit and the University of Windsor to conduct a
survey of over 500 immigrants to identify health lifestyle and barriers
to access healthcare education and services. As a result of this
work, a report was developed and identified by the LHIN as a
strategic healthcare priority
• Facilitated the launch of the Cultural Pass Program for new citizens
to explore and enjoy cultural activities in Windsor Essex
Is An Asset
• Conducted a survey among area Employers in collaboration with
E & SS, Workforce WindsorEssex & St. Clair College and hosted
workshop: “Creating Workplace Success through Diversity”
• Can assist in promoting Windsor Essex as region with a rich
multiculturallandscape and workforce which has the capacity to
engage global markets
• Invited to participate in a symposium sponsored by University of
Detroit Mercy School of Law: Global Michigan: Immigration and
Economic Growth on the topic “Rolling out the Welcome Mat – a
Canadian Approach”. Followed up with a meeting with Global
Detroit/Global Michigan staff to discuss common issues including
ways to maximize the skills and experiences of immigrants which
benefit the whole region
For more information about the work of the Windsor Essex
Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) please contact:
Mary Ellen Bernard
Manager, Social Policy and Planning
/ LIP Project Manager
Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership
(519) 255-5200 ext. 5270
[email protected]
Funded by: