Immigrants who come to Ontario can expect more help to successfully settle in the province, thanks to a $900 million, five-year federal funding deal.

The new cash will be earmarked for services that help newcomers make the adjustment to their new country by improving their language abilities and job search skills.

In particular, immigration officials are hoping to do more to help the family members of economic class immigrants who often experience a tougher time in the job market and don't fare as well when it comes to incomes.

"Our long-term hope is obviously that this will help those who are coming to Canada with better language training and more support up front," a federal official said. "The goal is to bring more prosperity to immigrants."

This is the first comprehensive immigration agreement between Ontario and Canada.

Ontario takes in more than half of all immigrants — 125,110 in 2004 — but was alone among the provinces in not having an immigration accord with Ottawa. As a result, it has been getting only $819 in federal funding per new arrival, compared with close to $4,000 given to Quebec.

The agreement will boost Ontario's share to $3,400 at the end of five years.

The deal means that, for the first time, Queen's Park will be able to fast-track immigrants with needed skills to fill specific labour shortages in the province. "It's conceivable that a town like Sault Ste. Marie would be able to say `we want so many immigrants and we've got jobs for them,'" a federal official said.

"This is a significant milestone, laying a foundation for the governments of Canada and Ontario to work together in collaboration with municipalities and official language minority communities to improve the social and economic integration of immigrants in the province," said federal Immigration Minister Joe Volpe.