Local immigration partnership councils a promising Canadian innovation

Summary: Recent research on immigration settlement identifies both complex obstacles in key areas such as employment and political participation, as well as emerging opportunities for inclusion based richer understanding of the integration process. Specifically, four learnings about effective integration are crucial. First, successful immigrant integration is a dynamic two-way process wherein newcomers and the receiving society work together to build communities that balance diversity and cohesion. Second, such two-way processes are rooted in the particular needs and capacities of individuals and community-based organizations, thereby playing-out in locally-specific ways. Third, to be responsive and sustainable, integration activities must directly engage these local actors in decision-making processes, exploiting synergies across non-governmental organizations, business representatives, and municipal officials. Fourth, upper-level governments must also do their part, providing direction and support to local planning and service delivery partnerships.