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$4m Ontario help for newcomers |
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The Ontario government is investing $4.1 million in services that help
new immigrants settle and begin new lives, the provincial immigration
minister has announced.
"By investing in our newcomers, we are investing in the prosperity of
all Ontarians and the future of the province," said Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle.
"Settlement agencies provide that very important first step for
newcomers on their path to building a prosperous future in Ontario."
The government is investing the $4.1 million in 79 agencies across
Ontario through the Newcomer Settlement Program. The program helps
non-profit community organizations provide settlement, orientation,
job-finding workshops and other settlement services to more than
100,000 newcomers.
"With the support of the Ontario government, we are able to help
newcomers settle quickly and begin their new lives in our communities,"
said Mario Calla, Executive Director, COSTI Immigrant Services.
Immigration is critical to Ontario's social and economic growth.
Ontario receives approximately 125,000 newcomers each year, more than
half of the country's immigrants. By 2011, immigration may account for
almost all of the net new labour force growth in the province,
according to Statistics Canada.
The provincial and federal governments signed a memorandum on May 17 to
quadruple federal immigration funding in Ontario from about $800 per
immigrant to about $3,400 per immigrant by 2009-10.
Officials of both governments are working hard to finalize a
Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement - which would be the first ever
for Ontario. |
Newsfile 