News Release - Government of Canada announces $38 million to help newcomers in Halton and Peel

Mississauga, December 7, 2007 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, today announced $38 million in funding for 15 partner agencies in the Halton and Peel Regions of Ontario to deliver settlement and integration services to immigrants in the community.

The funding, which covers the period from October 2007 to March 2010, is expected to help more than 150,000 newcomers access settlement services in the region. These services, delivered by Citizenship and Immigration Canada through partner agencies and organizations, include: help finding a job through employment related services, orientation, translation and interpretation services; help with referrals to community resources; and counselling services.

The Minister made the announcement during an event at the Peel Adult Learning Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.  

“The Government of Canada is committed to helping newcomers succeed with their new lives in Canada,” said Minister Finley. “The Halton and Peel Regions in Ontario are two of the fastest growing immigrant communities in Canada.  With this funding, thousands of new immigrants will be able to better integrate into their communities and have more opportunities to find work for themselves and their families.”

“For 16 years, we have been providing services to newcomers from more than 40 nationalities from around the world,” said Effat Ghassemi, senior manager of the Peel Adult Learning Centre. “With this new funding for increased programming to assist newcomers, we are excited to continue our partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada in meeting the settlement needs of those who choose Halton and Peel as their new home.”

Funding for the fifteen agencies is provided under the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA). Through this Agreement, the Government of Canada has increased funding for settlement and language training to Ontario by a total of $920 million over five years. Under COIA, Citizenship and Immigration Canada works with the province and immigrant-serving agencies to make a real difference in the lives of immigrants.

Overall, the federal government is providing $1.3 billion in settlement funding over five years to provinces and territories outside of Quebec, which receives annual funding through a separate agreement.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in partnership with provinces, territories and settlement providers, delivers programs and services that help newcomers settle, adapt and integrate into Canadian society. In addition to the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program, these services include: Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), which provides basic language training; and the Host Program, which helps immigrants by connecting them 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 settlement and integration 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

Jocelyne Limoges
Spokesperson, Media Relations
Communications Branch Ontario
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
416-954-7868

Backgrounder

• $38 million to help newcomers in Halton and Peel