News Release

Canada and Ontario sign historic immigration agreement

TORONTO, November 21, 2005 — The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the Honourable Mike Colle, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today signed the Canada–Ontario Immigration Agreement.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Government of Canada will invest an additional $920 million over the next five years in Ontario. This is the first comprehensive immigration agreement between Ontario and Canada, and it is intended to help more newcomers reach their full potential in Ontario by increasing the funding for services to help them settle, integrate and access language training.

By formalizing how the two levels of government will work together in the area of immigration, the agreement signals a shared desire to optimize the economic benefits of immigration and ensure that immigration policies and programs respond to Ontario’s social, economic development and labour market priorities.

“This is a significant milestone, laying a foundation for the governments of Canada and Ontario to work together in collaboration with municipalities and official language minority communities to improve the social and economic integration of immigrants in the province,” said Minister Volpe.

“This is truly a landmark agreement for our province and a history-making investment in the successful integration of the 125,000 new immigrants Ontario welcomes each year,” added Minister Colle.

Ontario welcomes more than half of all new immigrants coming to Canada every year. Increased settlement funding for immigrants in Ontario will help Ontario’s newcomers successfully start their new life here.

For more information:

Government of Canada

Stephen Heckbert
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 954-1064

Greg Scott
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 941-7028

Government of Ontario

Danna O’Brien Mary
Minister’s Office
Ontario Ministry of Citizenship
and Immigration
(416) 325-3460

Dowding-Paré
Communications Branch
Ontario Ministry of Citizenship
and Immigration
(416) 314-7230

Visit the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration website: www.citizenship.gov.on.ca

Backgrounder:

• Highlights of Canada–Ontario Immigration Agreement