Sarnia-Lambton Local Immigration Partnership (LIP)
About Us
The Sarnia-Lambton Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) is a multi-sector council chaired by the County of Lambton and funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The LIP Council is comprised of community members, stakeholders and service providers that work with and for local immigrant and newcomer populations. Its purpose is to provide a centralized venue for discussions relating to the coordination and enhancement of current services and supports for immigrants and newcomers locally. The LIP Council also facilitates the implementation of the LIP Settlement Strategy, our community’s plan to create a more welcoming and diverse Sarnia-Lambton.
Objectives
The overall objectives of the Sarnia-Lambton LIP are:
- To improve access to effective services that facilitate settlement and integration for immigrants and newcomers
- To improve access to the labour market for immigrants and newcomers
- To increase the community’s capacity to support and provide services to immigrants and newcomers
- To create a welcoming community and promote the inclusion of immigrants and newcomers in Sarnia-Lambton
Planning and Research (November 2009 – November 2010)
During the first phase of the initiative the Sarnia-Lambton LIP used a number of methods to consult with stakeholders (i.e. immigrants/newcomers, service providers, employers) on:
- The needs of immigrants and newcomers locally
- The barriers and challenges immigrants and newcomers face when settling into Sarnia-Lambton
- The barriers and challenges that service providers and employers face when supporting/hiring immigrants and newcomers
- The overall capacity of the community to provide comprehensive services to immigrants and newcomers
These consultations led to the development of a Settlement Strategy that examines these community-identified challenges and barriers to the successful social and economic integration of immigrants and newcomers. The Strategy also provides recommendations to address these challenges. These recommendations include 12 strategies organized by five priority areas of focus; employment, settlement, language & communication, coordination of services, and public awareness.
Implementation (November 2010 – Present)
Since November of 2010 the LIP Council has brought together key stakeholders to collaborate on programs, projects and initiatives that align with the strategies outlined in the LIP Settlement Strategy. For more information on the work of the LIP Council has facilitated, please visit the LIP Implementation Plan pages.
