Several Ottawa groups have been hurt by $53 million worth of cuts in funding to Ontario immigration organizations.

Federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced the cuts Tuesday, saying funding for settling immigrants in Ontario has decreased because the money is now needed in provinces where the influx of newcomers is growing.

Mark Zarecki, executive director of the Jewish Family Services of Ottawa, was notified by email that his program would not receive the $600,000 a year it had in the past. It came as a surprise, he said, as the government had previously been supportive of his organization's Against Prejudice program, which reached about 5,000 people since it began.

"Many people come with prejudices that are often propaganda from their host countries, and this program tries to get them to understand what Canadian values are," Zarecki said.

The cuts have his staff worried about layoffs during the holidays, Zarecki said. "Not good timing," he said.

Fred Awada, head of Ottawa's Lebanese and Arab Social Services, is in a similar bind. Over 70 per cent of his budget comes from federal funding, which Awada said is now "under review."

He said his organization, which helps newcomers find work and learn English and French, is now in limbo.

"It creates some difficulties or challengers for the organization with regards to staff confidence, and the ability to carry on with their activities," Awada said.

Kenney defends cuts

Kenney said federal money spent helping immigrants adjust to life in Canada needs to be spread more evenly across the country.

"Ontario deserves fair funding, but so do immigrants in other provinces," Kenney said. "As a result of this, together with an analysis of the efficiency of our settlement programs, we have made some reallocations."

Toronto, which bore the brunt of the Ontario cuts, is receiving fewer immigrants these days, Kenney said.

"More people are deciding to settle in other provinces, particularly western and Atlantic provinces, and so what we have to do is re-allocate the settlement funding to make sure that it’s following the newcomers," he said.

But Toronto Liberal MP Bob Rae slammed the cuts.

"I don't think I've ever seen such a harsh and draconian and inexplicable cut to the most vulnerable people in our midst," he said.