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On 15 October it was announced that immigrants in Hamilton will benefit from a new Local Immigration Partnership initiative which will help them integrate into Canadian society. This was announced by Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale MP David Sweet, Hamilton Mountain MPP Sophia Aggelonitis and City of Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger.
$285,000 in funding will be provided to the City of Hamilton by the Government of Canada. The Council will consist of municipal representatives, employers, school boards and settlement and social service agencies. Over the past 10 years 35,431 immigrants have made Hamilton their home.
"This initiative will enhance the city's ability to help newcomers integrate," said MP Sweet, on behalf of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. "Improving access to services that make the integration process easier will benefit not only newcomers, but communities across Ontario."
Under the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, a partnership between Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration $3 million of funding will be provided to municipalities and service provider organizations in Ontario.
"The Ontario government is working with municipalities, like Hamilton, to support the social and economic integration of newcomers," said MPP Aggelonitis. "Helping newcomers succeed in their communities is a sound investment for all Ontarians."
"The Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council was established with the specific task of drawing up a made-in-Hamilton Integration Strategy," said Mayor Eisenberger. "This Strategy is to define a vision, strategic priorities and objectives for newcomers in Hamilton, and identify how the agencies and communities of Hamilton can work together to fulfill them. The support for this initiative will help Hamilton strengthen its commitment to a city that that is inclusive and welcoming to all who choose to live here. It will strengthen our ability to attract and retain immigrants and refugees to our community to the benefit of all residents."
The Canadian Government gives a great deal of priority to supporting a wide range of settlement programs for immigrants. An extra $1.4 billing will be invested in over five years in all provinces and territories outside Quebec.
