News Release

New full-service Welcome Centre to help immigrants in York Region

Vaughan, June 26, 2007 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the Honourable Mike Colle, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, joined municipal leaders and representatives from five immigrant-serving agencies today to open the new Welcome Centre in Vaughan, the first of five planned under the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement.  

With funding of $4.1 million (2006–2008) from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Welcome Centre represents a new model for service delivery to immigrants in Ontario. Under the model, immigrants will be able to access, for the first time, a full range of services under one roof.

“Canada’s New Government is committed to helping newcomers succeed and build new lives for themselves and their families in Canada,” said Minister Finley. “That’s why we’re so pleased to be supporting centres such as this one, where a real difference can be made in the lives of newcomers by helping them with language training or finding a job.”

The Welcome Centre is expected to hire 20 new staff to provide settlement and employment support services and language training, accreditation and qualifications assistance to more than 3,500 newcomers in its first year of operation.

“Supporting expanded services for newcomers to York Region is part of our government’s commitment to breaking down barriers and helping newcomers successfully integrate into Ontario’s labour market,” said Minister Colle. “I am pleased to have signed the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, which secures an additional $920 million for newcomer settlement services and language training for front-line agencies in Ontario. Newcomers bring the skills, education and global experience to help Ontario prosper.”

The Welcome Centre project will be managed by a partnership of five community organizations – COSTI Immigrant Services, the Catholic Community Services of York Region (CCSYR), the Centre for Information and Community Services (CICS), Job Skills, and the York Region Neighbourhood Services (YNS) – that represent more than 35 participating community organizations.  

“We believe that the Welcome Centre will set a new standard for services to newcomers,” said Mario J. Calla, Executive Director of COSTI Immigrant Services, one of the lead agencies managing the new centre. “The concept of a comprehensive, one-stop, multi-service centre operated jointly by a number of experienced community agencies is an idea that will increase opportunities for success for new Canadians.”

The ministers were joined at the opening of the Centre by Bill Fisch, Chair and CEO, Regional Municipality of York, Linda D. Jackson, Mayor of Vaughan, and Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham. The Welcome Centre reflects a commitment by the Government of Canada to work in concert with the provincial government and municipalities in Ontario to help newcomers settle effectively into their communities.

Government of Canada funding for the Welcome Centre falls within the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, a $920 million commitment over five years to help newcomers integrate into Ontario communities, improve their language skills and find jobs. This is part of an overall increase in funding of $1.3 billion over five years to enhance settlement and integration programs for newcomers.

Canada’s New Government has taken a number of initiatives to help newcomers and their families, including:

• cutting the Right of Permanent Residence Fee in half;
• launching the first phase of the Foreign Credentials Referral Office, which will provide information about the Canadian labour market, credential assessment and the recognition requirements;
• introducing amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to help prevent vulnerable foreign workers from being exploited or abused; and
• welcoming more than 250,000 new immigrants in 2006.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Mike Fraser
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Tel.: 613-954-1064

Ian Darragh
Communications, Ontario Region
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Tel.: 416-954-7868

Kim Carrigan
Director of Marketing, Job Skills
On behalf of Welcome Centre – Immigrant Services
Tel.: 905-898-5138, ext. 7028