News Release

October 16, 2006

NEW ONTARIO CITIZENSHIP CURRICULUM LAUNCHED FOR NEWCOMERS

TORONTO — Newcomers are getting help to understand the benefits and responsibilities of life in Ontario through a new citizenship curriculum that will be offered to people enrolled in English and French as a Second Language classes, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle announced today.

“Understanding Ontario’s culture and the responsibilities of citizenship are important elements for newcomers to make a successful transition to their new home,” Colle said. “This curriculum will advance principles such as freedom, equality and active participation in community such as voting or volunteering.”

The new curriculum, which will be added to all citizenship classes in early 2007, will teach newcomers about laws, history, geography, government and responsible citizenship. The province has invested almost $100,000 to develop the curriculum, which is currently being piloted in non-credit ESL/FSL classes in six school boards: Toronto District School Board; Toronto Catholic District School Board; Thames Valley District School Board; Waterloo Region District School Board; Niagara Catholic District School Board; and, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. .

The Ontario citizenship curriculum is one of several initiatives undertaken by the McGuinty government to help newcomers integrate quickly into life in Ontario. Other initiatives include:

• Investing more than $50 million each year for ESL and FSL classes for adult newcomers, through 39 school boards across the province
• Negotiating the first ever Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, which quadruples federal spending on language training and settlement services to $920 million over five years
• Introducing Bill 124, the proposed Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act which, if passed, would help break down barriers to working in regulated professions by mandating fair, open and transparent registration practices
• Investing over $34 million in more than 60 bridge-training programs, helping more than 6,000 newcomers improve their language skills, prepare for exams and work in their field sooner, and
• Launching OntarioImmigration.ca, which provides information for newcomers on the job market, how to find work, settlement information and even how to get a driver’s license.

The announcement of the new citizenship curriculum pilot is part of the province’s recognition of national Citizenship Week, October 16 to 22.

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Contacts:
Rick Byun
Minister’s Office
Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
(416) 325-3460

Rob Andrusevich
Communications Branch
Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
(416) 314-7238