#Caada; #Refugees; #CanadaInvests
Ottawa/cmedia: An amount of $35 million in new money over the next three years has been announced by the federal government on Jan 17 to improve and expand immigration settlement services in small towns and rural communities.
“Our investment today will be key to enhance access to support services in smaller and rural communities that will support newcomer families and provide the tools for their long-term success in the years ahead,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
$21 million out of the total money will be used to establish nine new resettlement assistance program service providers in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, and New Brunswick to reduce pressure on the 32 providers currently operating across the country.
The rest of the $14 million be dedicated to improving services provided by 14 existing program centers. The money will also be used to fund a pilot project to boost settlement services for Francophone. newcomers who settle in the Prairies
The federal government said in a media statement that the funding will help newcomers “reach their full potential quicker” by helping them to learn English or French and acquire job skills.
Operating in all provinces except Quebec, the resettlement assistance program aims to provide newcomers with direct financial support and paying service providers to deliver essential services and includes a one-time start-up allowance and monthly income support, which lasts for one year or until a given newcomer can support themselves independently.
