Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney has announced that a further fourteen libraries are to be set up in the Southern Ontario region at a cost of $1.9 million.

The scheme is part of a project called the Library Settlement Partnership Program, geared towards easing the settlement process for the 200,000 migrants who immigrate to Canada every year. The project has been successfully running in Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton since 2006.

The programme offers a range of services including group orientation workshops, as well as offering migrants the opportunity to research local housing, transport and employment opportunities.

“Our Government is helping make settlement services more accessible to immigrants,” said Minister Kenney.  “This investment will give newcomers in our community access to settlement services to help ease their transition to life in Canada.  Their success will strengthen this community and Canada.”

Since introducing the initiative in 2006, the Canadian government has reminded committed to offering new migrants the resources required to enable them to make a smooth transition into Canadian life.

The Library Settlement Partnership programme is just one of the many initiatives set up by the government to welcome newcomers who have chosen to live and work in Canada. A total of $5billion was budgeted in 2006 for setting up similar schemes across the country over a five-year period.