Toronto, September 3, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced funding for Albion Neighbourhood Services to provide settlement services to newcomers.
The funding of more than $500,000 will help this organization deliver a number of settlement services to newcomers in the Etobicoke neighbourhood of Toronto. Settlement services delivered by the organization include: referrals to community resources, advice and guidance, language assessment, general information, and help finding a job.
“The Government of Canada is committed to helping newcomers succeed at a time when they need support the most—as they begin a new life in a new community,” said Minister Finley. “With this funding, newcomers living in Toronto can go to Albion Neighbourhood Services to get the services they need to learn a new language, find a job and integrate into Canadian society. Their success makes this community a better place and strengthens Canada as a whole.”
Albion Neighbourhood Services is also working in partnership with the Rexdale Women’s Centre, which is also funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), to deliver a special English-language training program geared towards newcomer youth.
“Albion Neighbourhood Services is very excited to work in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada,” said Filomena Ferlisi, Executive Director of Albion Neighbourhood Services. “This new partnership with CIC will provide a vital link to resources for this high-need community. Our team works with other settlement agencies in the area to provide seamless services to newcomers. With funding from CIC, we've been able to open up a Newcomer Resource Centre that is responding to community issues, needs and priorities while building on the assets, strengths and opportunities in Toronto.”
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. Under the COIA, CIC works with the Province of Ontario and immigrant-serving agencies to make a real difference in the lives of immigrants. 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.
The 2008 Budget also introduced changes to modernize the immigration system, to shorten the time it takes to bring newcomers and their families to Canada. Under this system, newcomers will arrive with the skills required to integrate more quickly into the economy. In this way, newcomers will have more opportunities to find work sooner in the fields for which they have been trained and to benefit more from life in Canada for themselves and their families.
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. Through the “Working in Canada” tool, www.credentials.gc.ca, newcomers may also access an online service that provides detailed labour-market information, and reference to appropriate provincial regulatory bodies.
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.
For more information on CIC programs, please visit 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
