Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has revealed that the federal government will be providing funding for a total of 16 organisations set up to welcome newcomers to Toronto and help them settle in.

Over $30 million has been pledged by Finley, and it is expected that such a substantial amount of money will provide settlement services for up to 10,000 new migrants to the region. These services will include language training, translation and interpretation, referrals to community resources and counselling.

Minister Finley commented: “The Government of Canada is committed to helping newcomers succeed. Toronto has long been an important destination for immigrants. With this funding, thousands of new immigrants, particularly internationally trained immigrants, will have access to language training, community services, and help with finding a job. Their success is good for Toronto and good for Canada as a whole.”

Providing funds for settlement programs to benefit newcomers with Canadian skilled visas has been a top priority of the government in recent times. Through the Canada-Ontario agreement, the Canadian government has pledged some $920 million to helping new migrants integrate themselves into society over the last five years.

Those who enter the country by means of Canadian immigration can also seek help from the Foreign Credentials Reference Office (FCRO) which helps internationally trained professionals to have their credentials assessed quickly so that they are able to begin work soon after arriving in the country. The FCRO also provides information, path-finding and referral services to help internationally trained individuals find suitable employment in Canada, making the most of the skills they have to offer.