News
Government of Canada invests in services to help newcomers in York
Region
Vaughan, June 6, 2008 - The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship
and Immigration, today announced funding for seven organizations in the
York Region to deliver settlement and integration services to nearly
9,700 newcomers in the community.
The funding of more than $10.4 million is expected to help newcomers
to Canada access settlement services in the community such as English-language
training, referrals to community resources and help finding a job.
The announcement took place at the Welcome Centre Immigrant Services
in Vaughan, a facility that was made possible by $4.1 million in funding
from the Government of Canada, announced in June 2007. Since that time,
the Welcome Centre has helped nearly 6,000 newcomers access a variety
of valuable services under one roof.
"The Government of Canada is committed to helping newcomers and their families
succeed," said Minister Finley. "This funding will provide settlement services
to help newcomers improve their language skills and facilitate their transition
to their new lives in Canada which will, in turn, strengthen our community."
"We at Catholic Community Services of York Region are proud of the success
of the Welcome Centre as an innovative approach that serves as a model
for others in addressing the needs of newcomers," said Stephen Lam, Director
of Immigrant Services and Community Programs for Catholic Community Services
of York Region. "With the continued support of Citizenship and Immigration
Canada (CIC), the increasing number of newcomers moving into the York
Region will have access to valuable services that provide the support
they need as they integrate into the community."
Settlement services are an essential part of the federal government's
immigration program. Through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement
(COIA), the Government of Canada has increased settlement funding for
Ontario by a total of $920 million over five years, helping thousands
of newcomers to Ontario. Under the COIA, CIC works with the province
and immigrant-serving agencies to make a real difference in the lives
of newcomers. In 2006, the Government of Canada began investing an additional
$1.4 billion over five years in settlement funding across the country.
The 2008 budget also proposes changes to modernize the immigration system
and to shorten the time it takes to bring newcomers and their families
to Canada. Under this proposed system, instructions would be issued to
immigration officers related to the processing of applications, including
with regard to the jobs available in Canada, so that people with those
skills and experience can be brought to Canada more quickly. With these
changes, newcomers could have more opportunities to find work sooner,
to provide a better life for themselves and their families and to benefit
more from life in Canada.
Newcomers to Canada can also turn to the Foreign Credentials Referral
Office (FCRO), which helps internationally trained individuals find the
information they need to get their credentials assessed and recognized
more quickly. Established in 2007, the FCRO provides information, path-finding
and referral services to help internationally trained individuals use
their skills in Canada. There are now 320 Service Canada centres across
the country offering in-person foreign credential referral services to
newcomers.
CIC funds a number of programs that help newcomers settle, adapt and
integrate into Canadian society. These programs are delivered in partnership
with provinces, territories and service-providing organizations and include
the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program, which provides orientation,
referral services, advice and guidance; Language Instruction for Newcomers
to Canada, which provides basic language training for adults; and the
Host Program, which helps newcomers connect with volunteers who help
them access services, establish contacts in their field of work and participate
in the community.
For more information on CIC's programs, consult our website at www.cic.gc.ca.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Tim Vail
Press Secretary
Minister's Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
Madona Mokbel
Communications
Ontario Region
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
416-954-7868 |
