Research publications

Over the past 70 years, growing numbers of Indigenous people in Canada have moved to urban centres. Today, more than half of the Indigenous population live in urban areas. Indigenous people may move permanently or temporarily to the city to access employment, educational opportunities or services that are not available in their communities. Indigenous people have built vibrant communities and developed organizations to provide essential services that support their transition to the city. However, a number of reports and stakeholders have identified gaps in services for urban Indigenous populations. These gaps may lead Indigenous people to access general provincial programming, which may not be culturally appropriate. Indigenous people may also experience racism and discrimination when accessing services, which can have negative effects on their well-being. Factors that may contribute to gaps in services for urban Indigenous people include jurisdictional disputes between federal and provincial governments and inadequate funding. Accurate data is necessary to identify existing needs and allocate funding accordingly. However, Indigenous organizations have concerns about the accuracy of existing population data on urban Indigenous people.

This document outlines initiatives that have been undertaken at the federal level to try to address the challenges related to the recognition of foreign qualifications. These include funding programs such as the Foreign Credential Recognition Program, pre- and post-arrival settlement services and the recent integration of some form of foreign credential recognition into economic immigration program requirements. However, these initiatives are limited and pressure will continue for fairer recognition of foreign qualifications and improved economic opportunities for newcomers.