I received this notice about a new Canadian government program to help immigrants integrate into Canadian society. After spending untold millions to help immigrants celebrate their cultures of origin, (something they are quite happy to do at their own expense), our government is now going to spend tax-payers’ money to help immigrants meet people from different ethnic backgrounds and better integrate into Canadian society.

 

The point is that those immigrants who want to integrate do so on their own, to the extent that they want, via any number of existing community, professional, sport, cultural, or social organizations. Those immigrants who prefer to stay mostly within their own cultural circle will continue to do so.

 

This announcement will start yet another feeding frenzy among the many not-for profit organizations that live of the public trough. There will be all kinds of noble sounding ideas put forward. How many millions of dollars will be spent?  Nothing much wrong with the noble goals, just that the programs will achieve nothing of significance.

 

50% of the Canadian population is on Facebook, and the numbers are growing at a rate of almost one million per month. Do we really need to prop up these old fashioned social service organizations when there are so many opportunities for people to connect? There must be better things to do with tax-payers money.

 

But governments, including Canada’s so-called Conservative government, want to be seen to be doing something, even if the result is  a sham. Governments want to spend our money as a means of staying in power. That is why government spending is unstoppable.

 

Here is a description of the program.

 

Objectives

Funding provided under the Inter-Action Projects stream focuses on projects aligned with one or more of the following program objectives:

  1. Building an integrated, socially cohesive society by:
    • building bridges between communities to promote intercultural understanding
    • fostering citizenship, civic memory, civic pride, and respect for core democratic values grounded in our history
    • promoting equal opportunity for individuals of all origins.
  2. Improving the responsiveness of institutions to the needs of a diverse population by:
    • assisting federal and public institutions to become more responsive to diversity by integrating multiculturalism into their policy and program development and service delivery.
  3. Actively engaging in discussions on multiculturalism and diversity at the international level by:
    • promoting Canadian approaches to diversity as a successful model while contributing to an international policy dialogue on issues related to multiculturalism. (Funding for this objective will be primarily for activities that take place in Canada.)

 

Eligible Recipients

The following individuals, groups, and institutions are eligible for project funding:

  • Canadian not-for-profit organizations or associations
  • non-federal public institutions, such as boards of education, schools, colleges, and universities, chambers of commerce, law enforcement and police agencies, hospitals and other health care institutions
  • regional and municipal governments and their agencies
  • First Nations and Inuit governments, band councils, and Aboriginal organizations
  • private sector (eligible for contributions only) – applications from the private sector must include at least one not-for-profit partner providing financial or in-kind support
  • Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Eligible Project Activities

Eligible types of activities are:

  • mentorships and unpaid internships
  • skills development initiatives for project beneficiaries
  • network and partnership development
  • leadership and volunteerism initiatives
  • knowledge sharing initiatives
  • conferences (eligible for contributions only)
  • meetings, events, and workshops as part of a larger initiative
  • development of public educational materials
  • development of programs, policies, and services relate