Ministry of Citizenship            Ministère des Affaires

and Immigration                civiques et de l’Immigration

Minister                              Ministre

6th Floor                             6e étage

400 University Avenue                 400, avenue University

Toronto ON  M7A 2R9                Toronto ON  M7A 2R9

Tel.: (416) 325-6200               Tél.:   (416) 325-6200

Fax:  (416) 325-6195               Téléc.: (416) 325-6195

March 24, 2006

Dear News Editor:

This government’s third budget builds on Ontario’s economic

advantage by investing $1.2 billion dollars in transit, roads and

bridges. This is the largest investment in infrastructure since

the 1970s. There are also significant investments in health care,

education, and language and skills training for Ontario’s

newcomers.

Under the McGuinty government, the Ministry of Citizenship and

Immigration’s budget has more than doubled compared with the

previous government. Our government invests $130 million annually

in programs to help newcomers settle, improve their language

skills, and find work — more than any other provincial

government.  It’s a reflection of this government’s commitment to

making sure Ontario newcomers get off to the best possible start.

Investing in Newcomers: We recently increased funding for

newcomer settlement programs by 29 per cent, to a total of $5.3

million annually.

Removing Barriers for the Internationally Trained:  We have

invested $21 million in 2005-06 in bridge training programs to

help internationally trained professionals prepare for licensure

exams and improve their language skills to help them work in

their chosen fields.

Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement:  Newcomers will also

benefit greatly from the first-ever Canada-Ontario Immigration

Agreement. It means $920 million in new federal funding for

Ontario newcomers over the next five years. We are transforming

the way Ontario helps newcomers by becoming a full partner with

the federal government in shaping programs. For example, the

level of adult English and French as-a-second language training

programs will be raised from basic to occupation specific to help

more people speak the language of their career. We will begin

consultations on this in the coming months.

Immigration Website: We have launched OntarioImmigration.ca — a

brand new way of welcoming people to Ontario and ensuring

newcomers and potential newcomers can easily access the

information they need to start their new lives here.

Changes at the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration: Most of

the programs and services to help new Ontarians succeed are now

under the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. This includes

responsibility for English and French as-a-second language

training and ensuring internationally trained professionals work

in their field as soon as possible.

Other new initiatives include:

  - The Community Builders Program

  - Newcomer Settlement Volunteer Awards

  - Media TV/Print Ad Campaign directing newcomers to Ontario

     programs

We have made real progress in helping newcomers settle in

Ontario.

I look forward to working closely with the federal government to

ensure Ontario’s newcomers benefit from new federal funding as

soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Mike Colle

Minister