News Release

Enhanced language training agreement helps internationally trained newcomers in Ontario

New Training Projects Help Newcomers Continue Their Careers

QUEEN’S PARK — The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), and the Honourable Mary Anne Chambers, Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, today announced a joint initiative to strengthen higher level and job-specific language training for internationally trained newcomers in the province.

The Ontario government and CIC are jointly investing $3.4 million over two years to support 13 projects under the Enhanced Language Training Initiative. The projects will deliver job-specific language training to more than 1,300 internationally trained individuals to help them make the transition to Ontario’s workforce.

“One of the keys to our continued prosperity and competitiveness will be the degree to which foreign-trained professionals and skilled workers are able to successfully integrate into society and our workforce,” said Minister Volpe. “The Government of Canada invests $20 million annually in its Enhanced Language Training Initiative and I am pleased to work with Ontario so that more immigrants can pursue professions and trades that make full use of the talents and skills they bring to Canada.”

“Our government recognizes the important contribution newcomers make to ensuring a strong and prosperous economy for all Ontarians,” Chambers said. “By providing the internationally trained with higher level language training, we are helping them to be successful in their efforts to obtain employment in the occupations for which they have been trained. It is important to all Ontarians that these skills not go to waste.”

More than 70 per cent of adult immigrants who come to Ontario are highly skilled with postsecondary education or training. While the provincial and federal governments have a long history of providing basic English and French as second language programs, the issue for internationally trained individuals has been the requirement for higher level language skills that are specific to each occupation.

“The funding will allow us to develop and deliver higher level language training that will help newcomers carry out successful job searches and work effectively in our workplaces,” said Phyllis Sereda, Executive Director of the Peel Adult Learning Centre in Mississauga.

This investment is part of the Ontario government’s plan to improve access for the internationally trained to their chosen professions and trades. Ontario is providing $12.5 million annually to meet this commitment.

“Our goal in negotiating a Canada–Ontario Immigration Agreement is to help newcomers integrate successfully into the economy and the community,” said Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. “Higher level language training for newcomers is an essential part of helping them bridge the gap to become employed in jobs for which they are trained and qualified.”

Contacts:

Rob Thompson
Minister’s Office, Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities
416-326-1609

Wilma Davis
Communications Branch,
Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities
416-325-6730
Public Inquiries: 416-325-2929
or 1-800-387-5514
TTY: 1-800-263-2892

Stephen Heckbert
Director of Communications
Minister Volpe’s Office
613-954-1064

Maria Iadinardi
Media Relations
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-0740

www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca

Backgrounder:

• Higher level English as a second language training for the internationally trained