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April 2, 2009 PROVINCE INCREASES FUNDING FOR SETTLEMENT SERVICES IN BRANDON AND WESTMAN REGION: ALLANBRANDON - The province has responded to growth through immigration by increasing funding support for immigrant settlement services in Brandon and the Westman Region, Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan announced today.
The province, with support from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, will provide an additional $278,000 to settlement services and adult language training. This new funding will bring the total support from Manitoba Labour and Immigration to $1.34 million, a 26 per cent increase over last year.
“The Westman region has experienced tremendous growth in immigration. This new funding will ensure there are more supports and valuable language training for newcomers to help them fully participate in the community,” said Allan.
Immigration to the Westman region has increased from 200 arrivals in 2004 to over 800 arrivals in 2008, primarily due to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.
“Services effectively support increased immigration through innovative settlement and integration programs to make Brandon and Westman a new home for immigrants,” the minister said.
Westman Immigrant Services is the first point of contact to assist newcomers and their families. It provides:
· co-ordinated settlement and adult language training services in one convenient location,
· centralized orientation on settling and working in Manitoba,
· regional language assessment and referral to English as an additional language training classes at levels 1 to 8,
· volunteer and literacy support programs,
· referrals to employment supports to help newcomers put their skills to work in the community, and
· training for interpreters.
“Co-ordination and community involvement is the key to successful settlement programs in the region,” said Allan.
A settlement program advisory committee comprised of community members, the City of Brandon and the provincial government and has been established to support program planning.
Co-ordination is also occurring through the network of eight adult English as an additional language programs which provide part-time classes in Brandon through Westman Immigrant Services, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and Assiniboine Community College as well as classes in Virden/Kola/Hamiota, Killarney/Cartwright, Carberry and Minnedosa/Neepawa.
“The Provincial Nominee Program has been very successful for our province and the growing number of immigrants that call this area home,” said Allan. “I would like to thank all of the service providers, community partners, businesses and residents for creating a dynamic welcoming community and for their hard work in making this program so successful.”
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