CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

$597,000 to help Canada's newcomers settle in

Saturday, 1 March 2008

Canadian Immigration has been given a $597,000 federal boost in order to help new migrants settle in, the first increase in this type of funding in 10 years.

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Diane Finley, announced that these funds will help about 260 immigrants and their families in the Canadian province, Ontario. "The government of Canada is committed to helping newcomers succeed," she said at a news conference at the Wellington Street Y.

Immigrant Settlement Services, a program under the patronage of the local YMCA, has helped many a migrant overcome the difficulties related to the mostly confusing paperwork of immigration applications. About 1,500 immigrants have been assisted by the local service. Altogether, they represent 112 countries and 76 languages.

It will be those kinds of programs, according to a recent announcement, that will be beefed up via the newly announced funding.

These programs include themes, such as orientation, general information, referrals to community resources, interpretation and employment-related assistance. They introduce newcomers not only to new information, but also to helpful networking and fun social programs.

"We need to do more than welcome immigrants," said the Immigration Minister. "We need to help them build a new life here."

260 immigrants and their families in Ontario will benefit from these funds, the Immigration Minister announced.

Settlement funding in Ontario will be increased by $920 million by the government. This will be done over a five-year period through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement.

Finley believes that it's money well spent, as by 2012, virtually all the national business growth will come from immigrant workers.

Those resources are critical for some newcomers, because some experience culture shock with their arrival in their new country. Combined with the bureaucracy they face, it all can get too overwhelming. Some have given up and returned to their countries of birth.

What helps a lot is the fact that many staff members or these programs can speak 12 languages, and can call on another 50 interpreters who speak about 30 languages – a relief to migrants who can be helped through the challenging immigration process via their mother tongue.

Immigration minister Finley said that Canada's immigrant application program needs to be simplified to make it easier for trained workers and specialists to come into the country while maintaining the integrity of the system.

"Canada is one of the best countries in the world, which is why a lot of people what to come here," she added.

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