What are Local Immigration Partnerships?
Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) are funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to develop and implement plans to improve immigrant and refugee settlement and integration. LIPs are community planning tables that include community agencies and institutions representing local government, settlement and community agencies, education, business, parks, recreation and culture, policing, libraries, volunteerism and others.
Since 2008, LIPs in Canada convene to support community-level research and planning to create more welcoming and inclusive communities where newcomers are connected and have opportunities to participate economically, socially, politically, and culturally.
Currently, there are more than 60 LIPs across Canada; in April 2020, Langley Community Services Society received five-year funding to establish and coordinate the Langley LIP. The work of the Langley LIP will be supported by a core LIP Membership Council, a number of task and issue-based working groups and a 12+ member Immigrant Advisory Council.
Why does Langley need a Local Immigration Partnership?
The City and the Township of Langley are extremely attractive communities and are growing quickly. The current population of the region is 141,000 and is expected to grow to 249,000 by 2041. Much of this growth will be due to immigration. In 2016, the Township had the highest immigrant population growth rate in BC at 21.5% and the City was 5th at 15.5%. Services, supports, policies and practices need to be reviewed, considered and adapted in an ongoing fashion to meet the ever-changing needs of Langley residents. As the community grows and transforms it is important to consider how services can be coordinated and that the capacity is in place to address the needs of the newest residents.
What will the Langley Local Immigration Partnership do?
The partnership table will enhance stakeholder and community knowledge of the contributions and assets newcomers bring and the challenges they face. It will play a vital role in identifying immigrant needs and service gaps. It will support service coordination to avoid service duplication and to fill service gaps and assist stakeholders to adapt programming and policies.
The project team has been assembled and the selection of members is underway.
Over the next two years key actions for the Langley LIP include:
- Formation of the Membership Council and Immigrant Advisory Council
- Development of a communications plan
- A survey on newcomer needs and community gaps
- Consultations with community stakeholders and the leaderships of the City and the Township to inform planning
- The development of a comprehensive Langley Settlement Strategic Plan
- Additional community-based research based on the priorities identified in the Strategic Plan
How do I become involved?
To learn more about the work of the Langley LIP and how to become involved, contact Ana Marie Panczel by email: langleylip@lcss.ca, or phone: 236-427-4830
Follow us on social!
