Initiative to make the newcomers’ lives easier.

Conservative MP Joe Comuzzi can relate to the frustrations that most of the newcomers experience when they first come to Canada with a lots of dreams accompanying them.

He recalls that during his trip to Italy, he wanted to make a telephone call but soon realized that he actually didn’t knew to use it. He asked on Wednesday- “How many people in Canada have experienced similar frustrations”? Comuzzi along with MP Ken Boshcoff, was present at the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association in order to announce a funding a $2 million for a period of two years that will help the newcomers to settle in Canada more easily. The amount will be invested towards settlement services, language training, mentorship programs, community resources referrals and other employment related services. It is estimated that more than 800 newly arrived immigrants will be benefited form the bunch of services.

Wahlay Ray came from Burma to this region with his wife almost six years ago. He said that there are many people in Canada who do not know anything bout the place and same was with him when he came here first. Ray, 33, said that initially, he didn’t even know how to operate a microwave as he had never seen it before, forget about using it. He is therefore grateful to the federal government for announcing the funding that will assist the newcomers and make them feel good. He tanked the government for making a difference in the lives of many people.

Comuzzi said that Canada is a country which is based on immigration. He said that that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and their government firmly believe in immigration and is totally committed towards new immigrants and their families succeed in Canada. He added that with the help of the settlement services, new immigrants will get the opportunity to learn one of the official languages of Canada, find a proper job and more importantly, settle into the community without much difficulty.

Comuzzi said that successful integration of the new immigrants is good for this community as well as Canada.

Boshcoff said that Northwestern Ontario has always been known as an area that welcomes immigrants. He said that the easier they will make it for the immigrants to settle, the more number of immigrants they will attract.

The executive director of the Multicultural Association Cathy Woodbeck said that the funding is an investment for the newcomers, communities and the future of Canada. She said that it is their responsibility to help the newcomers begin their lives in Canada.