News Release - Government of Canada announces new language training funding for internationally trained environmental engineers

Toronto, June 2, 2008 — The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) will be able to provide enhanced language training to internationally trained environmental engineers in Toronto thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced funding of more than $58,000 to provide enhanced language training to 40 environmental engineers who were trained abroad.

The training will be delivered as part of the Professional Access and Integration Enhancement Program, a joint initiative of the TRCA and several other community and professional associations. Engineers who participate in this program are also offered a 12-month full-time job placement with a host organization in the environmental engineering field.

“Language can be one of the most challenging barriers faced by newcomers to Canada,” said Minister Finley. “With this investment, highly skilled environmental engineers in Toronto will have access to the specialized language training they need to work in their field of expertise. Their success is good for Toronto and good for our country as a whole.”

“Thanks to the support of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), we can now address the challenges facing internationally trained professionals in finding employment in their field,” said Brian Denney, Chief Administrative Officer of the TRCA. “This new funding allows us to offer services that will increase the communication skills of newcomers, provide better access to professional accreditation, and open doors to the job market.”

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 and immigrant-serving agencies to make a real difference in the lives of immigrants.

The 2008 budget also proposes changes to modernize the immigration system, including shortening the time it takes to bring newcomers and their families to Canada. Under this proposed 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, provide a better life for themselves and their families and 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 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. Funding for the TRCA is provided through the Enhanced Language Training initiative which provides both occupation-specific language training and employability assistance. Other programs include the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program, which provides orientation, referral and counselling services; 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