Etobicoke, June 19, 2008 - The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced funding for the Etobicoke YWCA to help newcomers settle in Toronto.
The funding of more than $900,000 will help the YWCA deliver English-language training to newcomers at its new language training facility.
"Learning a new language is one of the biggest challenges faced by newcomers," said Minister Finley. "The training that the YWCA is providing will give newcomers the language skills they need to enter the Canadian job market and provide for their families. The Government of Canada is committed to helping them because their success is good for Toronto and good for Canada."
"YWCA Toronto is very pleased to deliver the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada program in Central Etobicoke," said Heather McGregor, Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Toronto. "This program, funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), is specifically designed for newcomer women. YWCA is committed to providing services to improve the lives of women and girls and this is a great way to help in empowering the newcomer women of Central Etobicoke."
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 total, since 2006, the Government of Canada has begun investing an additional $1.4 billion over five years in settlement funding in provinces and territories outside Quebec.
Budget 2008 also introduces changes to modernize the immigration system and to shorten the time it takes to bring newcomers and their families to Canada. Under this system, instructions would be issued to immigration officers related to the processing of applications, including in relation 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, referrals to community resources, 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
