Newcomers to benefit from improved access to services
By Albert Smith | Wed, 09/23/2009 - 13:09
From now onwards, better facilities will be provided to immigrants in Guelph and Wellington County for facilitating successful integration into their communities with the help of a new Local Immigration Partnership.
Michael Chan, Citizenship and Immigration Minister of Ontario; Michael Chong, Wellington-Halton Hills MP; and Mayor of City of Guelph, Karen Farbridge, announced the new initiative aimed to assist immigrants.
A federal funding of $459,000 will be granted to the City of Guelph for taking forward the new initiative, which includes the creation of a partnership council in local area. A settlement strategy will be developed by the new council which would determine delivery models, project and initiatives for assisting new immigrants. The council will comprise of employers, municipal representatives, respective members of school boards and agencies of social service and settlement. More than seven thousand newcomers have been accepted by the City of Guelph in the past ten years.
On behalf of Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney, MP Chong said that the new initiative will enhance the ability of communities to help in the integration of newcomers. Chong said that not only will the newcomers benefit from improved access to services, but communities throughout Ontario will benefit from the same.
A partnership between the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and Citizenship and Immigration Canada, termed as the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, is providing the funds.
Minister Chan said that the economic and social prosperity of Ontario depends of newcomers and therefore, assisting them in settling into their communities is in interest of all Ontarians.
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