CCS gets funding for language training

Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson announces $230,000 in funding for Caledon Community Services last Wednesday to provide language training to newcomers. Next to him Monty Laskin, executive director of CCS.

Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson, on behalf of Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley, announced last Wednesday $230,000 in funding to Caledon Community Services to provide language training to newcomers in Caledon.

"Canada's new government is committed to helping immigrants settle into their new lives and communities, and succeed in Canada," Tilson said. "Through this funding, newcomers in Caledon will be able to improve their language skills so that they can enter the workforce or get better paying jobs to help support their families."

"This is a critical investment in the growing community of Caledon," said Monty Laskin, executive director of Caledon Community Services. "Where there was once a large gap in services, there are now language instruction classes and other services for newcomers in their new home community. Improving English skills opens up a world of opportunities for very bright and motivated people from all over the world who have come to Caledon to make a new life for themselves and their families. What a tremendous welcome!"

The new funding to Caledon Community Services will provide language training for 30 student placements over the next 12 months, or 820 hours of language training.

Through the Canada- Ontario Immigration Agreement, the Canadian government has increased funding for settlement and language training to Ontario by a total of $920 million over five years. Overall, the federal government is providing increased funding of $1.3 billion over five years to support newcomers as they seek to integrate into our society and economy.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in partnership with provinces, territories and settlement providers, delivers programs that help newcomers settle, adapt and integrate into Canadian society. These include: the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program, which offers orientation and interpretation services as well as referrals to community resources, counselling, general information and employment-related services; the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada, which provides basic language training; and the Host Program, which helps immigrants by connecting them with volunteers who help them access services, establish contacts in their field of work and participate in the community.

For more information about CIC's programs, please visit www.cic.gc.ca.