Federal cuts put pressure on multicultural group

The head of Thunder Bay's Multicultural Association expects to see more clientswhen the local Citizenship and Immigration office closes at the end of May.

Cathy Woodbeck said her staff already works with newcomers who need help filling out application forms and navigating the immigration system.

"So I can see us being a bridge to a lot of services now and ... providing advice to newcomers that are trying to find out how they're going to get this service in the future," Woodbeck said.

She added that, although people will lose the face-to-face contact with local Citizenship and Immigration staff, many clients in dire need of one-on-one assistance (such as communication in English) often come to the Multicultural Association anyway so the association will continue to provide that face-to-face help.

Improved online services

The Thunder Bay Multicultural Association receives funding and has a service agreement with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, as well as with the Ontario government.

A spokesperson for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration said the department is reducing the number of small regional offices after improving its online system. The improved online services mean fewer physical offices are needed.

But the move has left Woodbeck with some questions.

"How will they do certain things, like interviews, or ... permanent resident cards," she asked. "How will those get to people that usually have to pick it up and verify that that's who they are?"

Woodbeck said she also wants to know what's happening with citizenship ceremonies that take place in the city.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada said permanent resident cards and citizenship ceremonies will continue to be delivered but it has not specified how.

Woodbeck said shes seen federal Citizenship and Immigration services centralized before, and then de-centralized again. But she also noted that, for some time, the department has been moving toward a centralized 1-800 and online system.

Woodbeck said, when the Thunder Bay office closes, the Multicultural Association will work with government staff elsewhere, likely in Toronto.