The integration and inclusion of newcomers in British Columbia

Canada is often seen from the outside as an example of good practice on immigrant integration. In this paper we outline the complex system that supports newcomer settlement and integration in British Columbia, a system that has evolved considerably in recent years. From a European perspective, this is a story of "making the small big," that is, using a limited set of resources to generate an elaborate system that is quite comprehensive. Much of this has been built on a foundation of voluntary activities; in recent years, however, the state has become more fully committed to improve the reception of newcomers, and a surprisingly large number of new programs have been introduced, either in partnership with non-government organizations or branches of municipal government. To a large extent, this is an unexpected development, since the provincial government has been seeking to reduce its spending in social policy rather than increase it.