The Richmond School Board has called on the federal government to reverse funding cuts to social services for immigrants and the City of Richmond is lending its voice of support.
In late February, board chair Debbie Tablotney wrote to Hon. John McCallum, the Minister of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada to note that the government had pulled back almost $200,000 in funding for Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) over the past three years, which includes cuts of 8.5 per cent, or $95,000, planned for the next school year.
The SWIS program provides settlement services such as orientation events, needs assessments and referrals, information sessions and community connections to children, families and adults, noted Tablotney.
“This support is vital because education is the key for children and their families to become contributing residents of Canada,” she noted, citing concerns that without the initial level of funding that such services could “draw upon” K-12 educational funds.
On Monday, city council approved a letter of support for the SWIS program.
“The importance of the settlement process in communities with high levels of newcomers such as Richmond cannot be overemphasized,” stated Mayor Malcolm Brodie.
