Saskatchewan communities receive $2.59 million in funding for immigrant settlement and integration services

To help newcomers settle, adapt and integrate into the province, the government of Saskatchewan, in partnership with community-based organizations and other agencies, has been delivering programs and services to migrants, and providing stakeholders necessary funding to support these initiatives.

Recently, the province has provided approximately $2.59 million in funding to support immigrant service providers across the province. Funding will support English language training and settlement services provided by organizations in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, the Battlefords, Lloydminster, Tisdale, Hudson Bay, Humboldt, Yorkton, Estevan, Weyburn, Gravelbourg, Swift Current and other surrounding communities. Funding will also support English language training provided by the Carlton Trail, Cumberland, Great Plains, Parkland, North West and Southeast Regional Colleges. Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies (SAISIA) and the provincial council of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress will also receive funding.

"As immigration to Saskatchewan increases, providing effective English training and integration services to immigrants will become increasingly vital to the strength of our communities and the prosperity of our province overall," Advanced Education, Employment and Labor Minister Rob Norris said. "This funding will help to ensure that newcomers to Saskatchewan have greater access to the supports they need, allowing them to participate more fully in the community and build their lives here."

Approximately 25 per cent (or $664,300) in funding will go to immigrant serving organizations in Regina: For English language training and labor market integration services, Regina Open Door Society, Beth Jacob Synagogue, Regina Immigrant Women Centre and the Regina Public School Division will receive approximately $318,600 for the 2008-09 fiscal year; Under the Saskatchewan Nominee Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Enhanced Assessment and Referrals Program (EARP), the Regina Open Door Society will also receive approximately $121,950; Under the Community Capacity Building Fund, the Beth Jacob Synagogue, Regina Immigrant Women Centre, L'Assembleé communautaire fransaskoise and the Regina Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress will receive approximately $140,430 for 2008-09 to deliver settlement services; while remaining $83,320 will cover support for smaller projects, core funding to Regina Open Door Society, grants to Regina Immigrant Women Centre and Uganda Canadian Association of Saskatchewan, and the seven per cent lift to community-based organizations announced by the government in September 2008.

Approximately 35 per cent (or 894,500) in funding will go to immigrant serving organizations in Saskatoon: For English language training and labor market integration services, Saskatoon Open Door Society, Global Gathering Place, International Women of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Intercultural Association and the Saskatoon Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress will receive approximately $378,000 for the 2008-09 fiscal year; Under the Saskatchewan Nominee Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Enhanced Assessment and Referrals Program (EARP), the Saskatoon Open Door Society will also receive approximately $114,460; Under the Community Capacity Building Fund, the City of Saskatoon, Global Gathering Place, International Women of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Intercultural Association, Global International Community Help Association, the Filipino Canadian Association of Saskatoon, the German Canadian Concordia Club and the Saskatoon Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress will receive approximately $325,290 for 2008-09 to deliver settlement services; while remaining $76,750 will cover support for smaller projects, core funding to Saskatoon Open Door Society, and the seven per cent lift to community-based organizations announced by the government in September 2008.

Approximately 40 per cent (or $1.03 million) will be provided to organizations in other communities across the province.

The province is also providing $37,216 in new funding to the Yorkton Branch of Saskatchewan Abilities Council for a new "Partners in Settlement and Integration (PSI)" project. The PSI project will refer new immigrants to appropriate community services and agencies within the East Central region, and will facilitate matches with local community volunteers to assist with broader community integration. Since 2006, approximately 130 newcomers have settled in East Central Saskatchewan.

During 2008-09 fiscal year, the provincial government of Saskatchewan has set an aggressive immigration target of 2,800 nominations for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), which actually represents more than 8,000 newcomers including nominees, their spouses and families.