Since the report card was released in February 2005, we've been seeing a further erosion in the capacity to adequately support immigrants and refugees coming to the country. This translates into increased wait-lists, and there are cuts in adult ESL programming.
As another example in British Columbia, all of the provincial immigrant and refugee service agencies had their current contracts for the provision of adult ESL and settlement services extended by one year, but at a status quo budget going back 18 months, which on average meant a 10% cut in service outputs. Again, this is the erosion of the infrastructure. Agencies across the country are being stretched to provide adequate supports. So that's the background.
Of course in the other context, research done by Metropolis and the department itself points to increased poverty rates, decreased labour market attachment, and an increasing inability to access free French and English-language services, which are key to successful settlement.
I guess the main point from CISSA is that if we are going to increase the levels of immigration, we've got to have the capacity and the infrastructure, and this means smart investment. We've been struggling to provide adequate supports for over a decade with the same level funding. In the meantime, close to two million immigrants and refugees have entered the country.