Immigrant Settlement and Integration in Canada: Trends in Public Funding.

This article presents the first comprehensive study documenting trends in federal and provincial state funding for immigrant settlement and integration services in Canada, based on a novel dataset obtained through freedom of information requests. It reveals significant disparities in funding distribution across regions, with traditional immigrant-receiving provinces like Ontario and Quebec receiving disproportionately higher federal and provincial funds compared to rapidly growing newcomer destinations such as Alberta, despite the latter's increasing immigrant population. Funding for immigrant-serving associations (ISAs)—non-governmental organizations providing essential settlement services—is highly concentrated among a small number of large, established organizations primarily located in major urban centers, limiting support for smaller or newer groups, especially in "second-tier" cities and rural areas. These funding inequalities have implications for the accessibility and quality of settlement services available to newcomers depending on their location, potentially affecting their integration outcomes. The study underscores the importance of equitable resource allocation while situating these findings within the broader context of settler colonialism and Indigenous sovereignty in Canada.