CIC Announces Funding to Help Newcomers Settle in Toronto

Published March 2008 – The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), announced funding to help 16 organizations deliver settlement services to an estimated 10,000 immigrants in Toronto.

The funding of over $30 million is expected to help newcomers to Canada access settlement services in the city including language training, translation and interpretation, referrals to community resources, and counseling.

“Toronto has long been an important destination for immigrants. With this funding, thousands of new immigrants, particularly internationally trained immigrants, will have access to language training, community services, and help with finding a job. Their success is good for Toronto and good for Canada as a whole,” said Minister Finley.

“Thanks to the support from CIC, through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement we are able to provide internationally trained newcomers with real employment options for their future,” said Jane Cullingworth, Executive Director of Skills for Change. “This new funding allows us to offer increased services for those newcomers who choose the Toronto area as their new home.”

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 COIA, Citizenship and Immigration Canada works with the province and immigrant-serving agencies to make a real difference in the lives of immigrants. Newcomers to Canada can also look 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.

CNM