CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Funds Communities Across Canada

Tuesday, 9 September 2008

The Canadian government recently announced funding to attract and support skilled immigrants for several cities in Canada including the territory of Nunavut, Mississauga, Brampton, and Red Deer.

According to the Honourable, Diane Finely, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Nunavut will receive more than CAD $600,000 over a three-year period. The money will go towards online marketing, web-based tools, and other services that will promote the territory as a desirable destination for immigrants, and help them integrate into society once they have arrived.

"Immigration is a source of growth and prosperity across the country, and the Government of Canada is committed to helping Nunavut attract newcomers to the territory," Finley said.

"The federal government's support will enable Nunavut to offer more services and information that will promote the territory as a destination for immigrants, and help them settle once they arrive," she added.

Canada's newest territory, Nunavut is the largest and least populated of Canada's provinces and territories with only 29,500 residents spread over an area equal in size to Western Europe.

"Immigration and the successful integration of newcomers are priorities for Nunavut," said the Honourable Ed Picco, Minister Responsible for Immigration. "This funding will help us develop new and innovative ways to connect immigrants as early as possible to the resources and services they need to make a successful transition to their new homes in Nunavut."

Funding of more than $11.1 million was also announced for Mississauga and Brampton by Wajid Khan, Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, for nine service provider agencies in Mississauga and Brampton to deliver settlement and integration services to nearly 6,200 newcomers.

The funding 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 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."

Finally, Bob Mills, Member of Parliament for Red Deer, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, also announced support for the delivery of settlement and integration services to approximately 300 newcomers in Red Deer, Alberta.

The funding, totalling $1,082,071, will go towards settlement services such as language training, interpretation and translation, skills improvement, advice and guidance, general information and public awareness education. Language training and help learning essential skills are important settlement services that help newcomers integrate more easily into their new communities.

“Prime Minister Harper and our Government are committed to helping newcomers all over this country as they make new lives for themselves and their families,” said Mr. Mills. “Their successful integration will create new and exciting opportunities for them, strengthen their new community in Red Deer and Canada as a whole.”

“The Central Alberta Refugee Effort, in partnership with Catholic Social Services delivers programs and services designed to help newcomers deal with complex challenges, learn essential skills, establish supportive connections, and provide an atmosphere of acceptance and a sense of belonging in their new community. This makes their settlement in Canada a positive process,” said Veena Chandra, Executive Director of C.A.R.E. “Our services have expanded in response to the growth in immigration and this funding support enables us to deliver these vital services to the benefit of the whole community - culturally, socially and economically.”

For 2008-09, Alberta will be receiving over $47 million in basic settlement funding. This is an increase of over $16 million over 2007-08.

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