Government Of Canada Provides Funding To The Learning Enrichment Foundation To Help Newcomers In Toronto

February 20, 2008

TORONTO – Bruce Stanton, Member of Parliament for Simcoe North, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, joined with other federal, provincial and municipal leaders today to announce funding for the Learning Enrichment Foundation to help immigrants settle and integrate in Toronto.

The funding, totalling more than $750,000, 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.

“The Government of Canada is committed to helping newcomers succeed,” said Mr. Stanton. “With this funding, newcomers to Toronto will have access to an increased number of services to ease their transition to life in this country. Their successful transition will strengthen Canada.”

“Citizenship and Immigration Canada's (CIC) support of the Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF), through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, will assist newcomers to our community to get the help they need,” said Peter Frampton, Executive Director of the LEF. “With this funding, we will be able to seamlessly connect newcomers to language instruction, skills training, jobs and child minding – all under one roof.”

Settlement programs are part of a successful 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 (CIC) works with the province and immigrant-serving agencies to make a real difference in the lives of immigrants.

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. Funding for the Learning Enrichment Foundation is provided through the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program, which provides orientation, referral and counseling services, 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’s programs, consult our website at www.cic.gc.ca.