New Help for 400 Immigrants in Peterborough

Government of Canada announces funding to help newcomers settle in Peterborough
Peterborough,

March 28, 2008 — Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peterborough, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced funding to help the New Canadians Centre deliver settlement services to an estimated 400 immigrants in Peterborough.

The funding of more than $450,000 is expected to help newcomers to Canada access settlement services in the city such as language training, paraprofessional counselling and assistance in finding a job, including access to workplace training opportunities in bookkeeping, computer repair, the legal field, food service and other occupations.

“The Government of Canada is committed to helping newcomers succeed,” said Mr. Del Mastro. “One of the biggest challenges for newcomers when they arrive in Canada is finding employment. The job training opportunities offered by the New Canadians Centre give newcomers a chance to gain Canadian experience, making them more attractive to Canadian employers.”

“The new funding will allow our centre to serve newcomers who now call Peterborough and the Kawartha region their home,” said Carmela Valles, Executive Director of New Canadians Centre Peterborough. “With support from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA), we are better able to assist hundreds of newcomer clients and help them successfully integrate and participate in their new communities.”

Settlement services are an essential part of the federal government’s immigration program. Through the COIA, the Government of Canada has increased settlement funding for Ontario by a total of $920 million over five years. Under the COIA, CIC works with the province and immigrant-serving agencies to make a real difference in the lives of immigrants. In 2006, the Government of Canada began investing an additional $1.4 billion over five years in settlement funding across the country.

Newcomers to Canada can also turn 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. Established in 2007, the FCRO provides information, path-finding and referral services to help internationally trained individuals use their skills in Canada. There are now 320 Service Canada centres across the country offering in-person services to newcomers.

CIC funds a number of programs that help newcomers settle, adapt and integrate into Canadian society. These programs are delivered in partnership with provinces, territories and service-providing organizations and include the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program, which provides orientation, referral and paraprofessional counselling services; Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada, which provides basic language training for adults; and the Host Program, which helps newcomers connect with volunteers who help them access services, establish contacts in their field of work and participate in the community.

For more information on CIC programs: www.cic.gc.ca


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