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OTTAWA — The federal government has scaled back an immigration program designed to help newcomers adjust to life in Canada that was used by fewer than 10 per cent of immigrants despite having its budget nearly tripled in 2015.

As of Jan. 1, Ottawa is funding just 16 organizations to deliver pre-arrival services, down from a high of 27 in 2015. The program’s budget for the next five years is $113 million, or $22.6 million per year, down from $32 million in 2016-17.

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Pre-arrival services are intended to help economic and family-class immigrants and refugees prepare for life in Canada before they land, and can include help with skills training and professional qualifications, connections with employers and mentoring.

The changes come after an audit last year revealed problems, including ineffective promotion and low uptake. Service providers were struggling to reach clients, serving as few as 13 in a single year at a cost per client of up to nearly $28,000.