Details on transfer payment programs

Transfer payment programs spending of $5 million or more

Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: Financial compensation to the province (in the form of a grant) is based on the Canada‑Québec Accord relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission of Aliens, which came into force on April 1, 1991.
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: Ongoing

Funding details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Canada‑Québec Accord relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission of Aliens
• Type of transfer payment: Grant
• Type of appropriation: The program is appropriated annually through Government of Canada Estimates.

Purpose and objectives

• Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:
  

  Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, signed in 1991, Canada has devolved settlement and integration responsibility to Quebec, and provides Quebec with an annual grant that notionally covers settlement and integration services to permanent residents in the province.

  The objectives of the Accord are the preservation of Quebec’s demographic importance within Canada; and the integration of immigrants into that province in a manner that respects the distinct identity of Quebec.

  Under the Accord, Canada is responsible for defining overall immigration objectives, national immigration levels and admissibility, selecting applicants in the family sponsorship class and protected person class, determining refugee status in Canada, and granting citizenship. The Accord provides Quebec with exclusive responsibility for selecting economic immigrants destined to the province (with admissibility decision resting with Canada) and for resettled refugees destined to the province (amongst individuals identified as refugees from abroad by Canada), as well as the settlement and integration of all permanent residents. This program uses transfer payment funding from the grant for the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration.

  In accordance with section 26 and Annex B of the Canada-Quebec Accord, Canada is required to provide compensation to Quebec for these services, where it is established that:

  • the reception and integration services (referred to in sections 24 and 25 of the Accord) offered by Quebec correspond, when considered in their entirety, to those offered by Canada in the rest of the country; and
  • those services are offered without discrimination to any permanent resident in the province, whether or not that permanent resident has been selected by Quebec.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups:

The Government of Quebec is the only recipient of the grant.

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result: IRCC effectively supports newcomer participation in Canadian society

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Settlement

Expected results:

The Government of Quebec is responsible for developing and publishing its own immigration legislation and policies. It reports to the provincial National Assembly on its own expected results and spending related to immigration.

While Quebec has jurisdiction over settlement and integration of permanent residents destined to the province, the Accord specifies that the services covered by the grant must correspond to services offered by Canada in the rest of the country. To that end, Canada and Quebec collaborate on conducting regular comparative studies of their respective settlement and integration services to ensure that comparable services continue to be offered to newcomers across the country. Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, the Joint Committee (Comité mixte), co-chaired by Assistant Deputy Ministers of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration, is mandated to jointly carry out the comparison of services. Since 2014, the Joint Committee has tabled seven comparative studies that show reception and integration services for newcomers to be generally comparable in both jurisdictions, therefore meeting the requirements of the Accord. At the November 2017 Comité mixte, the Assistant Deputy Minister co-chairs recommended that the comparative study be tabled every second year, to reduce reporting burden and resource intensive tasks. The last comparative study, covering April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, was tabled at the Joint Committee meeting on December 7, 2023. The next comparative study covering April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 was finalized in collaboration with Quebec, and was tabled at the Joint Committee meeting in December 2025.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: An evaluation of the Grant to Quebec is tentatively scheduled in 2026–27.

Francophone Immigration Support Program

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: December 18, 2023
• End date: March 31, 2028
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2023–24

Funding details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Francophone Immigration Support Program
• Type of transfer payment: Grants and Contributions
• Type of appropriation: The program is appropriated annually through Government of Canada Estimates.

Purpose and objectives

• Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:
  

  This Program aims to better integrate the Francophone lens into the immigration continuum by strengthening the engagement of Francophone communities in activities promoting Francophone minority communities (FMCs) abroad, activities promoting immigration programs and activities aimed at identifying, supporting and recruiting French-speaking candidates to immigrate to Canada.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups:

To achieve the Francophone Immigration Support Program (FISP) objectives, IRCC will enter into grant and contribution agreements with the following eligible recipients to carry out eligible activities:

• Not-for-profit organizations including non-governmental organizations, not-for-profit corporations, community groups, umbrella organizations, regulatory bodies, chambers of commerce, industry associations, professional associations and apprenticeship authorities;
• Post-secondary designated learning institutions;
• Provincial and territorial governments;
• Municipal governments; and
• International organizations (non-government).

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental results:

• Entry to Canada of eligible visitors, international students and temporary workers is facilitated
• Percentage of potential permanent residents destined to Canada, outside Quebec, who identify as French-speaking
• Economic immigrants succeed in the labour market

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Settlement

Expected results:

The immediate outcomes are the direct, short-term results of the FISP for eligible activities funded by IRCC. These immediate outcomes are as follows:

• Francophone partners are more involved in the promotion of FMCs, and in the identification, support and recruitment of French-speaking candidates.
• French-speaking candidates are better informed about immigration opportunities in FMCs.
• French-speaking temporary residents are better equipped to apply to permanent immigration.

The FISP activities are supported by evidence-based data.

The expected intermediate outcome is an increase in the number of admissions of French-speaking candidates resulting, in whole or in part, from eligible activities and projects under IRCC’s FISP, for both the permanent residence and the temporary residence programs.

The expected long-term outcome of the FISP is to foster demographic growth and economic development in FMCs, both through the selection of French-speaking permanent residents and the admission of French-speaking temporary residents.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: An evaluation of IRCC’s Francophone Immigration Pathway is currently underway and due to be completed in 2026–27.

Interim Housing Assistance Program

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: March 2019
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2024–25

Funding details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Interim Housing Assistance Program
• Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions
• Type of appropriation: The program is appropriated annually through Government of Canada Estimates.

Purpose and objectives

• Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:
  

  Since 2017, Canada has experienced an increase in asylum claims. Provinces have called for support in managing the downstream impact of asylum flows, including interim housing pressures. While housing matters have traditionally fallen under the purview of provincial and municipal jurisdictions, the Government of Canada recognizes the need for all levels of government to work together to address pressures on the shelter system, and to ensure that claimants have the supports they need to achieve housing independence.

  With a view to supporting asylum claimants in quickly achieving housing independence while awaiting determination of their claim, the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP) will provide funding to provinces, municipalities, and community organizations to help:

  • Adopt sustainable, cost-effective approaches to addressing the housing needs of asylum claimants; and
  • Build capacity to receive and address the housing needs of claimants in jurisdictions across the country.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups:

To achieve the IHAP objectives, IRCC will enter into grant agreements with the following eligible recipients to carry out eligible activities:

• Governments, specifically provincial, territorial and municipal governments

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result: Potential permanent residents are selected for immigration to Canada

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Asylum

Expected results:

As a program with two years of funding (fiscal year 2025–26 through to 2026–27), the Program outcomes intend that funded partners strengthen capacity to address the housing needs of asylum claimants across the country in a sustainable, cost-effective manner. This will help to bolster capacity to deliver on Canada’s plan for immigrant admissions.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: An evaluation is currently scheduled to start in 2028–29.

International Migration Capacity Building Program

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: First launched as the Migration Policy Development Program in 2003. It was renamed the International Migration Capacity Building Program in 2019.
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022–23

Funding details

• Name of program terms and conditions: International Migration Capacity Building Program
• Type of transfer payment: Grant
• Type of appropriation: The program is appropriated annually through Government of Canada Estimates.

Purpose and objectives

• Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:
  

  The International Migration Capacity Building Program (IMCBP) provides funding to eligible grant beneficiaries for initiatives that advance global migration policies and programs, in support of Canada’s migration and humanitarian objectives.

  The objective of the IMCBP is to support the development of well-managed migration systems that facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration through:

  1. the advancement of capacity building efforts; and,
  2. an increase in the development and exchange of migration-related information and expertise.

  The IMCBP aligns with standard qualitative as well as, results-based measurement practices, such as the inclusion of outcomes, indicators, and targets. These performance measures will assess the effectiveness of initiatives to contribute to:

  1. strengthening migration and refugee protection systems in sending, transit and receiving countries;
  2. facilitating safe, orderly and regular migration, while deterring irregular migration; and,
  3. promoting open, evidence-based discourse on migration and refugee issues.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups:

• Other:
  • International organizations and other foreign grant beneficiaries;
  • Non-Governmental Organizations, institutions, organizations, and agencies that are not for profit, operating at the international level from within or outside Canada; and
  • Individuals and private sector organizations operating at the international level from within or outside Canada.

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result: Potential permanent residents are selected for immigration to Canada

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Asylum

Expected results:

The IMCBP has multiple funded envelopes with different expected outcomes. Broadly, the expected results for the IMCBP include:

• Strengthening migration and refugee protection systems in origin, transit, and destination countries;
• Facilitating safe, orderly, and regular migration, while deterring irregular migration;
• Improving regional cooperation and collaboration on deterring irregular migration and forced displacement; and
• Promoting open, evidence-based discourse on migration and refugee issues.

These expected results all contribute to the IMCBP’s ultimate outcome, which is safe, regular, and orderly migration and strengthened protection systems in support of Canada’s migration objectives and diplomacy.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: An evaluation is tentatively scheduled to start in 2028–29.

Resettlement Assistance Program

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: 1951 as the Adjustment Assistance Program. The Resettlement Assistance Program in its current form was implemented in 1998.
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2018–19, updated in 2024

Funding details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Grants and Contributions in Support of Resettlement Assistance Program
• Type of transfer payment: Grants and Contributions
• Type of appropriation: The program is appropriated annually through Government of Canada Estimates.

Purpose and objectives

• Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:
  

  The Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) provides direct financial support and funds the provision of immediate and essential services to government-assisted-refugees and other eligible recipients as identified in the RAP terms and conditions.

  RAP contributes to the objectives of Sections 3(2) (b) , 3(1) (a), 3 (1) (c), and 3(1) (i) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to respectively: “Fulfill Canada’s international legal obligations with respect to refugees and affirm Canada’s commitment to international efforts to provide assistance to those in need of resettlement;” “Permit Canada to pursue the maximum social, cultural and economic benefits of immigration”, “to support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy, in which the benefits of immigration are shared across all regions of Canada;” and “Promote the successful integration of permanent residents into Canada while recognizing that integration involves mutual obligations for new immigrants and Canadian society”.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups:

RAP targets three types of recipients: (1) resettled refugees and persons admitted to Canada under similar circumstances; (2) service providers that provide immediate and essential services to eligible clients; and (3) service providers engaged in activities that support the Refugee Resettlement Program more broadly (e.g., funding to international organizations to facilitate the overseas processing of refugees and to the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program to support private sponsors in Canada).

Service providers may be:

• not for profit organizations and associations, including non-governmental organizations, community groups and umbrella organizations;
• intergovernmental and international organizations;
• businesses;
• Canadian educational institutions (including boards, districts and divisions);
• provincial, territorial or municipal governments; and
• individual Canadian citizens (e.g., consultants, facilitators).

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result: IRCC effectively supports newcomer participation in Canadian society

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Refugee Resettlement Program

Expected results:

RAP is an element of the overarching Refugee Resettlement Program, which has the following outcomes:

• The immediate outcomes are that resettled refugees receive timely protection, including protection-oriented supports during overseas processing and movement to Canada, and their immediate and essential needs are met (post arrival).
• The intermediate outcome is that resettled refugees are able to meet their basic needs during their first year in Canada.
• The ultimate outcome is that resettled refugees are well-positioned to become settled and integrated in Canada.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: An evaluation is tentatively scheduled to start in 2028–29.

Settlement Program

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: 2008
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2023–24

Funding details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Settlement Program
• Type of transfer payment: Grants and Contributions
• Type of appropriation: The program is appropriated annually through Government of Canada Estimates.

Purpose and objectives

• Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:
  

  For Canada to realize the economic, social and cultural benefits of immigration, newcomers must integrate successfully into Canadian society. The IRCC Settlement Program plays a major role by assisting immigrants and refugees to overcome barriers specific to the newcomer experience so that they can undertake their longer-term integration on a similar footing to other Canadians.

  The Settlement Program aims to provide newcomers with the information required to make informed decisions, language skills adequate to their settlement and integration goals, and the support they need to build networks and gain meaningful employment in Canada. IRCC funds the delivery of settlement programming across the country and outside Canada and provides support for initiatives that contribute to the capacity enhancement of recipient organizations.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups:

To fulfill IRCC’s objective of promoting the successful integration of permanent residents into Canada, IRCC uses grants and contribution agreements. These agreements may be signed with the following eligible recipients for settlement services:

• Provincial, territorial or municipal governments;
• International organizations;
• Not-for-profit organizations including non-governmental organizations, non-profit corporations, community groups, umbrella organizations, regulatory bodies and apprenticeship authorities;
• Businesses, including those that provide indirect services (such as assisting employers in hiring newcomers, private language schools, conference organizers, Web or production firms for tool development);
• Educational institutions (including school boards, districts and divisions); and
• Individuals.

Restrictions:

• Unless specifically allowed in the grant and contribution agreement, no user fees can be charged to clients for services funded by IRCC.
• For-profit organizations may be eligible for funding provided that the nature and the intent of the activity is non-commercial and, not intended to generate profit and that it supports program priorities and objectives.

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result: IRCC effectively supports newcomer participation in Canadian society

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Settlement

Expected results:

Settlement refers to a short period of mutual adaptation between newcomers and the host society, during which the government provides services to newcomers in order to support newcomer success, from selection to full integration into the Canadian economy and society. IRCC funds the delivery of settlement programming across the country, and contributes to the capacity enhancement of service provider organizations. Projects and activities funded under the Settlement Program are expected to address and contribute to the immediate and intermediate level of outcomes for eligible clients including services for French-speaking clients.

• Immediate outcomes:
  • access to services is facilitated with increased understanding of clients’ needs;
  • clients receive appropriate information and services to address their settlement needs and attain awareness of community and other resources to deal with settlement issues;
  • clients gain knowledge about life in Canada, learn official languages, acquire knowledge and skills for adapting to life in Canada; and make connections related to community and employment.
• Intermediate outcomes:
  • clients access services they need;
  • clients make informed decisions about life in Canada;
  • clients use official languages;
  • clients participate in local labour markets, and broader communities and social networks.
• Ultimate outcomes:
  • Settlement Program supports immigrant settlement and adaptation toward longer-term integration (five or more years after beginning of first service);
  • Canada benefits from successfully settled and integrated clients.

IRCC also acknowledges that for newcomers to achieve longer term integration, a societal effort is required, involving collaboration among various level of government and other federal departments.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: An evaluation of the Local Immigration Partnership/Zonal Immigration Partnership (a component of the Settlement Program) is currently underway and scheduled for completion in 2025–26.

Transfer payment programs spending of under $5 million

International Organization for Migration

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading United Nations agency in the field of migration, having joined the UN system as a related organization in 2016. Canada was a founding member of the IOM in 1951 but withdrew membership in 1962. Canada subsequently rejoined the organization as a full member in 1991 and has paid its annual Assessed Contributions ever since.
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2010–11

Funding details

• Name of program terms and conditions: International Organization for Migration
• Type of transfer payment: Contribution^{Footnote 1}
• Type of appropriation: Funds are appropriated annually through Government of Canada Estimates.

Purpose and objectives

• Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:
  

  Contributions to the IOM allow Canada to:

  • Participate in the organization’s governance and decision-making mechanisms, including evaluation and audit, and budget setting practices.
  • Enhance its knowledge on global trends and approaches to managed migration.
  • Advance its international priorities on migration, which include: helping to ensure the orderly and humane management of migration; promoting international cooperation on migration issues; and assisting in the search for practical solutions to migration problems.
  • Provide humanitarian assistance for migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons.
  • Deliver IRCC programs in the areas of resettlement, migration health and capacity building.

  As an IOM member, the Department has an increased capacity to meet its objectives related to:

  • Managed migration that promotes Canadian interests and protects the health, safety and security of Canadians.
  • International recognition and acceptance of the principles of managed migration consistent with Canada’s broader foreign policy agenda.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups:

• International organizations

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result: Potential permanent residents are selected for immigration to Canada

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Asylum

Expected results:

• Contribute to the oversight of IOM’s governance and decision-making processes, to ensure that IOM programs and policies are well managed and reflect Canada’s objectives, values, and interests in advancing safe, orderly, and regular migration.
• Increase knowledge and understanding of global migration trends and the migration policies, activities, and priorities of other countries, supporting evidence-based policy development and program design within IRCC.
• Advance and promote Canada’s leadership and perspectives on managed migration and international protection in multilateral forums, reinforcing Canada’s role as a constructive and engaged partner in global migration governance.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: An evaluation of IRCC’s membership in international organizations (including the IOM) is scheduled for 2027–28.