News Release - Government of Canada joins partners in launching Tool Box to help attract immigrants to smaller communities

Lethbridge, February 1, 2008 — Parliamentary Secretary Ed Komarnicki, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, joined provincial, municipal and community partners to launch the “Tool Box of Ideas for Smaller Centres,” a resource aimed at attracting immigrants to smaller communities, and supporting their settlement and integration across Canada.

“The Government of Canada believes in the importance of immigration, and we are a proud partner in this initiative,” said Mr. Komarnicki. “We want to help smaller communities across the country to benefit from immigration and this tool box will help them develop their own immigration strategies.”

Immigration offers long-term potential for the growth and sustainability of a community. “Attracting and Retaining Immigrants: A Tool Box of Ideas for Smaller Centres” is a comprehensive guide for communities wanting to create their own immigration strategy. It was created in response to an expressed interest by smaller communities in attracting newcomers. It includes information on immigration and employment realities, and recommendations on strategies for building support, reducing barriers and creating welcoming communities.

Specifically, the Tool Box addresses topics such as: creating local opportunities; setting practical objectives; building consensus; involving the community; the importance of family ties, employment, and housing services; accessing existing opportunities under current immigration rules as they relate to skilled and business immigrants, provincial nominees, refugees and temporary residents; and, factors needed to create a welcoming community, such as respect for diversity, accessibility of public services and educational facilities, health, safety, faith and spirituality and leisure activities.

“The Tool Kit is a practical tool for smaller centres to use as they build a strategy to address the issues surrounding the attraction and retention of immigrants to their community,” said Jean McRae, Executive Director of the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, one of the members of the National Working Group. “It allows communities to be creative while encouraging active participation from existing community members as they build an inclusive plan for newcomers.”

The National Working Group on Small Centre Strategies, which spearheaded this initiative, is comprised of representatives from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, provincial governments, and immigrant settlement service providing organizations.

The Tool Box was funded through a contribution agreement from Citizenship and Immigration Canada as part of its programming aimed at helping newcomers to Canada integrate and settle in their new communities. Overall, the Government of Canada is investing $1.4 billion in settlement funding over five years to provinces and territories outside of Quebec, which receives annual funding through a separate agreement.

For more information on CIC’s settlement and integration programs, please visit: www.cic.gc.ca.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Matthew John
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Karen Shadd-Evelyn
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650