News Release - Government of Canada announces funding to help resettle refugees in Ottawa

Ottawa, June 19, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced funding to help refugees settle and succeed in Ottawa.

The Catholic Immigration Centre will receive more than $1 million to assist up to 380 refugees in beginning their lives in Ontario. This is in addition to the more than $12 million announced since February for Ottawa-area settlement services, such as language training and assistance in finding a job, which refugees are also able to access.

“Canada is a blessed country, and the Government of Canada is committed to helping those truly in need begin their new lives in Canada,” said Minister Finley. “As we celebrate World Refugee Day later this week, these services will help them along their journey. The hopes and dreams they bring with them will help build a richer and stronger Canada.”

World Refugee Day, which falls on June 20, is an annual opportunity to honour the courage of the millions of refugees and displaced people around the world.

The funding announced today is provided through the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), which offers financial support and immediate and essential services. These services include help with temporary accommodation, assistance in finding a permanent home, help with such items as banking, managing a household and other everyday tasks, and referrals to federal and provincial programs.

“The RAP gives refugees a great head start as they enter Canada,” said Carl Nicholson, Executive Director of the Catholic Immigration Centre. “We are very pleased that the Government of Canada has recognized the importance of helping refugees rebuild their lives in Canada. The RAP funding has enabled us to help refugees become successful contributors to our society.”

For 2008–09, CIC has set aside $18.5 million under this program to help refugees in Ontario. In total, more than $49 million has been set aside under the RAP to assist in the resettlement of refugees across Canada except in Quebec, which is funded under the Canada-Quebec Accord.

The resettlement services are in addition to settlement services and programs funded by CIC to help all newcomers, including refugees, settle and integrate into their new communities. Through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, the Government of Canada has increased funding for these broader settlement services by $920 million over five years. In 2006, the Government of Canada began investing an additional $1.4 billion over five years in settlement funding in provinces and territories outside Quebec.

Settlement and resettlement services are an essential part of the federal government’s immigration program. They help immigrants and refugees overcome barriers specific to the newcomer experience and are key to supporting their longer term economic and social integration.

Canada resettles 10,000 to 12,000 refugees from overseas every year. This represents 10% of the 100,000 refugees resettled globally. In 2008, Canada will welcome 7,300 to 7,500 government-assisted refugees through the RAP and 3,300 to 4,500 through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

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

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