News Release - Government of Canada provides funding to help newcomers settle in Brantford

Brantford, February 20, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, joined with municipal leaders today to announce funding to help immigrants settle and integrate in Brantford, Ontario.

The funding, totalling more than $597,000 over three years, is being provided to the YMCA of Brantford to deliver a variety of settlement services, including orientation, interpretation, referrals to community resources, general information and employment-related assistance. The funding is expected to serve more than 1,200 newcomers.

“The Government of Canada is committed to helping newcomers succeed,” said Minister Finley. “This funding will give immigrants in Brantford access to services to help ease their transition to life in Canada. Their success will strengthen this community and Canada as a whole.”

“With the support of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, our agency will be able to provide essential settlement services to newcomers in the Brantford area,” said Karen Williamson, Director of Immigrant Settlement Services of the YMCA of Brantford. “The increased funding demonstrates that the government understands the importance of helping newcomers become actively and successfully engaged in their new communities.”

Settlement services are an important part of a successful 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 COIA, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) works with the province and immigrant-serving agencies to make a real difference in the lives of immigrants.

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. Funding for the YMCA of Brantford is provided through the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program, which provides orientation, referral and counseling services. Other programs offered by CIC include 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

Lonny Kates
Communications Branch
Ontario Region
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
416-954-7868