History

Settlement is a two-way process, requiring adjustment on the part of both newcomers and host communities. In the last two decades, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recognized the need for developing new strategies and structures to address newcomer settlement at the community level.

Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs), first funded by IRCC in Ontario in 2008, allow for broad engagement of diverse stakeholders to develop a collective community response to newcomer needs. LIPs do not provide services directly to immigrants, but rather foster and strengthen collaboration between community partners aimed at improving immigrant outcomes and making communities more welcoming and inclusive.

There are more than 50 LIPs across Canada with 18 LIPs funded in British Columbia. Over the last several years, a significant body of research has demonstrated that these innovative partnerships are successful in improving settlement services coordination, engagement of diverse community partners and newcomer success.