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Canada's federal budget announced on February 23 includes increased funding to help immigrants settle into the country, reports The Globe and Mail newspaper.
The budget released yesterday by Finance Minister Ralph Goodale pledges an extra C$298 million over five years, starting with C$20 million for the 2005-06 financial year to assist the integration and settlement of immigrants. The money will be used to help immigrants find jobs and improve their language skills. There will also be an additional C$20 million in each of the next five years to improve the delivery of services within the immigration department.
The budget also pledges C$805 million over five years for improving the healthcare system through shorter waiting times, more staff and more research. This will include C$75 million to assist foreign-trained doctors in obtaining accreditation required to work in Canada.
The budget also provides funds to increase the number of diplomatic staff and promote foreign trade, with C$42 million over five years going towards increasing the number of officers in the field. However, the Toronto Star newspaper reports that since this money will go to the Foreign Service rather than the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration which pays immigration officers, the extra money will not reduce immigration backlogs at Canadian Embassies in Beijing and elsewhere.
