September 8, 2016—Ottawa, Ontario—Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable John McCallum, and the Minister of Science, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, today announced an investment totalling $600,000 in short-term grants to fund 25 research projects on issues that affect the successful resettlement of refugees.
“Immigration helps build our society, culture and economy in long-lasting ways. The research that will be undertaken, thanks to the investments announced today, will help ensure that Canada's settlement programs provide the best possible supports to newcomers and refugees to help them integrate into their communities and thrive,” said Minister McCallum.
Canada responded to the Syrian refugee crisis by welcoming nearly 30,000 refugees between November 2015 and August 2016, with thousands more applications in progress. But arriving in Canada is just the beginning of the resettlement process for refugees.
This joint initiative between the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will focus on the arrival, settlement and integration of Syrian refugees and will examine issues such as employment, social integration, youth, housing, mental health and the impact on local support systems.
“Social sciences and humanities researchers help us to understand issues affecting our daily lives and provide evidence for sound policy-making. This initiative is vital to supporting the successful integration of refugees into Canadian society,” said Minister Duncan.
“SSHRC’s support of timely collaborative initiatives such as this highlights the unique contribution of social sciences and humanities research to guide informed decision-making at all levels within Canadian society,” said Ted Hewitt, President of SSHRC.
The researchers will present the preliminary results of their projects at a number of events, including the National Metropolis Conference in March 2017 in Montreal.
Quick Facts
- SSHRC is the federal research funding agency that promotes and supports postsecondary-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences. It supports about 8,300 research projects annually.
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