Cross-Sector Partnerships in the Provision of Services to New Immigrants in Canada: Characteristics, Relevance and Constraints

ABSTRACT

The integration of newcomers to Canada is a complex undertaking that involves many players working together in various formal or informal partnership arrangements. This paper focuses on the bilateral but asymmetrical relationship between governments and immigrant-serving organizations. The findings indicate that although there is agreement on what the partnership should look like, the two parties see integration in different perspectives: short-term versus long-term outlook and economic integration versus a more holistic view. The article explores whether contractual relationships can be considered partnerships and differentiates between macro–sector-to-sector partnerships versus those between government and individual organizations.

KEYWORDS:

• Canada
• cross-sector partnerships
• government-NPO relations
• immigrant integration

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Nabiha Attalah, Ida Berger, Julie Drolet, Mary Foster, Jim Frideres, Joe Garcea, Fernando Nunes, Valerie Preston, John Shields, Maria Trache, Adnan Turegan, Bilkis Vissandji, Ingrid Waldron, and Sarah Wayland.

Funding

This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. The project, Immigrant Integration and Inclusion: Investigating the Canadian Partnership Model From a Complex Systems Perspective, involved academic researchers and community partners from across Canada.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. The project, Immigrant Integration and Inclusion: Investigating the Canadian Partnership Model From a Complex Systems Perspective, involved academic researchers and community partners from across Canada.