COSTI CEO ANITA STELLINGA ADDRESSES THE HOUSE OF COMMONS STANDING COMMITTEE ON CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION
December 2, 2025: COSTI CEO Anita Stellinga addressed the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration today, calling for sustained investment in Canada’s settlement sector as essential infrastructure for nation-building. Speaking as part of the Committee’s ongoing study of Canada’s immigration system, Stellinga outlined practical solutions to strengthen the sector and ensure newcomers can thrive. “Canada’s success as a nation depends on immigration. It fuels economic growth, strengthens social cohesion, and addresses demographic challenges,” said Stellinga. “But immigration policy cannot succeed without a strong settlement sector. Our work delivers human capital outcomes that make economic goals possible.”
Stellinga highlighted the critical role settlement agencies play in providing housing, employment supports, workplace language training, and credential recognition. These services accelerate integration, reduce reliance on social assistance, and increase lifetime earnings, clear evidence that investment in settlement is an investment in Canada’s economy. Studies confirm that early access to settlement services leads to better outcomes for newcomers and for the country as a whole.
She urged the federal government to restore long-term funding cycles and commit to stable investments that reflect real operational costs and client complexity. “Nation-building projects like roads and hospitals are framed as economic investments. The same must apply to the settlement sector. This is not charity; it is smart economic policy and a commitment to Canada’s future.”
Stellinga also called for renewed federal funding for shelter and wraparound supports for asylum claimants to prevent systemic strain on an already overstretched shelter system and ensure timely integration. Closing her remarks, she urged leaders to counter harmful narratives about immigration and renew a positive vision, one that unites Canadians, strengthens prosperity, and ensures newcomers can thrive.
To watch the whole speech click here.
