During recent monts Government of Canada announced a number of funding initiatives targeted to assist newcomers establish themselves in Canada. They assume financial aid to newcomer communities, language training centres, employment etc.

A brief digest is provided below.

From beginning of 2008 and up to date, the following major funding initiatives were announced by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to facilitate newcomers in the country. It is likely that those new immigrants who intend to settle in the generously sponsored location will have access to quality newcomer assistance, that will help them to integrate into society with less efforts.

January 18, 2008 / Peel region, Ontario

$830,000 towards the Peel Newcomer Strategy Group’s ongoing work to develop a coordinated strategy for the integration of newcomers in Peel Region. The Peel Newcomer Strategy Group was formed in 2005 by the United Way of Peel Region in collaboration with the Region of Peel, to ensure that the need for settlement services in the community is met. By championing a coordinated strategy for the successful integration of immigrants, the work of this group will benefit all newcomers in the region.

February 1, 2008 / Lethbridge, Alberta

$1.3 million under the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) Program, invested over three years. They will go towards language training and literacy programs for newcomers. It is expected to serve more than 650 newcomers in this area.

February 7, 2008 / Ottawa, Ontario

$2 million to the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre to deliver settlement and integration services to newcomers in the community. They will be spent over two and a half years, to serve more than 7,000 people with settlement services such as language training, counseling, general information and employment-related support.

February 8, 2008 / Toronto, Ontario 

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.

February 20, 2008 / Brantford, Ontario

The funding of more than $597,000 over three years, is being provided to the YMCA of Brantford to deliver a variety of settlement services, including orientation, interpretation, referrals to community resources, general information and employment-related assistance. The funding is expected to serve more than 1,200 newcomers.

February 20, 2008 / Toronto, Ontario

The funding of more than $750,000 to the Learning Enrichment Foundation, will help deliver a variety of settlement assistance, including orientation, interpretation, citizenship preparation, job search referrals and help in accessing social services, housing, immigration and citizenship information and support.

February 22, 2008 / North Bay, Ontario 

The funding, totalling $280,000, is being provided to two organizations serving newcomers in the North Bay area. The North Bay and District Multicultural Centre will receive $194,000 to deliver settlement assistance to newcomers, including help in finding a job and in accessing health and community services. The Big Sisters of North Bay and District will receive $86,043 to deliver a mentoring program that matches volunteers with newcomer youths.

February 29, 2008 / Barrie, Ontario

The funding, totalling $984,529, will help an estimated 700 newcomers access settlement services in the region, including reception, orientation, translation and interpretation services; referrals to community resources; counselling services; and employment-related services. It will also provide language training to 63 individuals and 10 child-minding spaces over a two-year period.

February 29, 2008 / London, Ontario

$3 million in funding to help seven organizations deliver settlement services to immigrants in London, Ontario.

March 7, 2008 / Toronto, Ontario

Funding to help the YMCA Korean Community Services and the Korean Canadian Women’s Association Family and Social Services deliver settlement services to immigrants in Toronto. The funding of over $684,000 is expected to help more than 1,600 newcomers to Toronto access settlement services such as language training, counseling and help finding employment.

March 7, 2008 / Calgary, Alberta

The funding, totaling $1,460,142, to Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association will help the organization deliver settlement services including language training, counseling, and help finding a job. The funding is expected to help an estimated 1,000 immigrant women.

March 10, 2008 / Ottawa, Ontario

The new funding for six organizations to deliver settlement services to newcomers in Ottawa and the surrounding area, totalling more than $10 million, will help more than 1,300 newcomers access settlement services, including language training, counselling and help finding a job.

March 14, 2008 / Calgary, Alberta

The new funding of $16.5 million to 12 organizations deliver settlement services to immigrants in Calgary is expected to help an estimated 5,000 newcomers to the area access language training to help them find jobs and integrate into their new community more easily.

March 17, 2008 / Kitchener-Waterloo area, Ontario

Under the LINC program, Conestoga College will receive $3.2 million in funding for brand new English-language training services to help newcomers in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.  The funding is expected to provide more than 250 student-placements among 20 separate classes in the region.

March 19, 2008 / Windsor, Ontario

The new funding, totalling more than $13.3 million over the next two years, will go toward settlement services, including language training, and assistance in finding a job and settling into the community. The funding is expected to help an estimated 7,500 newcomers in the Windsor area.

March 20, 2008 / Ontario

The funding of more than $7.4 million will help provide settlement services for an estimated 1,500 French-speaking newcomers. These services include language training, orientation, translation, referrals to community resources, counselling and child-minding.

March 26, 2008 / Toronto, Ontario

The funding, of more than $36 million to 19 organizations to deliver settlement services for youth in schools, libraries and community centres across Toronto, will help newcomer youths and their families access settlement services throughout the city and in high needs neighbourhoods. These services include innovative programs such as mentorships and peer engagement through sports and the arts.

The funding, totalling $2.4 million, will go to three Jewish organizations in Toronto. Jewish Family and Child Services will receive $1,658,148, Jewish Immigrant Aid Services Toronto will receive $570,162 and the Jewish Vocational Services of Metropolitan Toronto will receive $226,549.

March 28, 2008 / Peterborough, Ontario

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.

April 11, 2008 / Peel region, Ontario

The funding, totalling over $300,000, will go towards settlement services including: language and job skills training, leadership development programs, recreational activities, and the YMCA’s Youth Culture Workshop for Parents.

April 11, 2008 / Toronto, Ontario

The funding of more than $2.7 million to Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society  (CUIAS), which deliver settlement services to nearly 3,000 immigrants in Toronto, is expected to help newcomers to Canada access settlement services in the city such as referrals to community resources, advice and guidance, translation and interpretation, and group workshops on the Canadian legal, social, health and economic system. 

April 25, 2008 / Hamilton, Ontario

Funding of $947,370 to the St. Joseph Immigrant Women’s Centre is expected to help an estimated 530 newcomers to Hamilton access a variety of settlement services, including language training, help finding a job and getting settled in their new community.

May 9, 2008 / Kitchener-Waterloo area, Ontario

The more than $8.4 million to help five organizations deliver settlement services to an estimated 1,200 immigrants in Kitchener-Waterloo will help newcomers to Canada access a variety of settlement services in the city including language training, referrals to community resources and help finding a job.

May 16, 2008 / Oakville and Brampton, Ontario

The funding of over $5.5 million to the Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning will go toward a number of services to help newcomers prepare to enter the Canadian labour market, including language training, mentorship and career development programs for internationally trained individuals.

May 20, 2008 / Fredericton, New Brunswick 

More than $3 million will be provided to the Multicultural Association of Fredericton, the New Brunswick Multicultural Council and the University of New Brunswick to help ensure that services and supports are in place to give immigrants every opportunity to succeed in their new communities.

May 20, 2008 / British Columbia

The Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia will receive more than $1.3 million to assist up to 800 refugees with temporary accommodations, food and incidentals, orientation sessions and counselling and referral services.

May 21, 2008 / Yukon

The new funding of over $341,000 is expected to help one hundred or more newcomers access language training programs and referrals to community resources for assistance in settling into their new communities and finding a job.

May 22, 2008 / Moncton, New Brunswick

The Government of Canada will invest more than $1.3 million in the Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA). Funding will help newcomers access orientation and other services, including referrals to community resources and assistance, language training in both French and English, and help establishing contacts in their field of work.

May 30, 2008 / Welland, Ontario

The funding of almost $700,000 is expected to help newcomers to Canada access a variety of settlement services including language training, referrals to community resources and help finding a job.

June 6, 2008 / York region, Ontario

The funding of more than $10.4 million is expected to help newcomers to Canada access settlement services in the community such as English-language training, referrals to community resources and help finding a job.

June 13, 2008 / Hamilton, Ontario

The funding of more than $11 million will help newcomers to Canada access settlement services such as language training, referrals to community resources and help finding a job.

June 13, 2008 / Prince Edward Island

The funding, totalling more than $2.6 million over a three-year period, will go to the P.E.I. Association for Newcomers to Canada, Carrefour d’immigration rurale Évangéline, Holland College and Study Abroad Canada. The funding will help deliver settlement services such as language training, translation and interpretation, job search support and resettlement assistance for refugees. It will also go toward culture-bridging activities and anti-racism programs.