Funding will help immigrants

Program aimed at aiding integration

Immigrants settling in Ottawa will have more access to services designed to help them fit in and find a job in the country they now call home.

Liberal MPP Yasir Naqvi announced Friday newcomers to the capital would be able to take advantage of provincially funded settlement services, which aim to help people who have been in the country for some time but might still need help with language or job skills development.

As part of a two-year, $14.9-million provincewide program, three community organizations in the city centre will receive a total of $600,000 over the next two years, with the caveat the money be used to support newcomers.

The Catholic Centre for Immigrants will get $425,000, the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization will get $149,000 and the Ottawa Chinese Community Services Centre will receive $122,500.

The money is designed to fill in the gaps for new Canadians who may no longer qualify for federal funding — which can only go to new permanent residents — but who still need help with language training, job skills, finding an apartment, youth or senior services, or counselling services. Provincial money can be used for programs that help citizens and refugee claimants, as well.

“Ontario’s new government is investing in local programs, which help immigrants succeed and contribute to our economic growth. We all benefit when newcomers integrate into our local communities,” Naqvi said Friday.

According to government figures, settlement services in Ontario help more than 80,000 newcomers each year. This investment represents a 15-per-cent increase in funding since the past two years.

Ontario welcomes nearly 40 per cent of all of Canada’s newcomers each year.