News Release - Government of Canada announces more than $11.1 million to help newcomers in Mississauga and Brampton

Mississauga, September 5, 2008 — Wajid Khan, Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced funding for nine service provider agencies in Mississauga and Brampton to deliver settlement and integration services to nearly 6,200 newcomers.

The funding of more than $11.1 million is expected to help newcomers to Canada access settlement services such as language training, referrals to community resources, advice and guidance, employment-related services, bridge-to-work opportunities and job search workshops.

The contribution will support new youth initiatives, including orientation services, mentorship opportunities and recreational activities. It will also fund a drop-in centre for newcomer youth, where they will have access to information and counselling on employment, education and career planning.

“The Government of Canada is committed to helping new families to Canada succeed,” said Mr. Khan. “With this funding, newcomers, including youth, will be able to better integrate into their communities and have more opportunities to find work for themselves and their families. In total, since 2006, the Government of Canada has begun investing an additional $1.4 billion over five years in settlement funding across the country.”

“We understand the need to improve settlement services for newcomers to Canada,” said Naveed Chaudhry, Executive Director of the Peel Multicultural Council. “We are very pleased with the support from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, which recognizes the urgency of meeting the settlement needs of newcomers in our area. The new funding that the federal government has allocated through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement will allow newcomers to participate fully in the development and prosperity of Mississauga.”

“The funding from the Government of Canada for language training has been of great benefit to immigrant communities in Peel Region,” said Ahmed Iqbal, Executive Director of Muslim Community Services. “In fact, improved English proficiency enabled our newcomers to increase their employment prospects and earnings.”

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 foreign credential referral services to newcomers. Through the “Working in Canada” tool, www.credentials.gc.ca, newcomers may also access an online service that provides detailed labour-market information, and reference to appropriate provincial regulatory bodies.

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.

For more information on CIC 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

Madona Mokbel
Communications
Ontario Region
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
416-954-7868

Backgrounder

• Announcement of settlement funding to help newcomers settle in Mississauga and Brampton