EAST CENTRAL IMMIGRANT SERVICES GET FUNDING BOOST

The province is providing $37,216 in new funding to the Yorkton Branch of Saskatchewan Abilities Council for a new Partners in Settlement and Integration project.

The Partners in Settlement and Integration 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.

The funding will support two part-time settlement co-ordinator positions that will also assist employers to develop effective plans to integrate and retain immigrant workers and their families within their workplaces and communities.

"It is critical to provide newcomers a welcoming and supportive environment that recognizes the strengths they bring with them and builds on those strengths," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris. "Our focus is on developing community partnerships to assist newcomers in reaching their full employment potential and becoming active participants in their communities."

The provincial government has set an aggressive immigration target of 2,800 nominations for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program during the 2008-09 fiscal year. Including nominees, spouses and families, this represents more than 7,500 newcomers to our province. Since 2006, approximately 130 newcomers have settled in East Central Saskatchewan.

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For more information, contact:

Regan Brady
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3170
Email: regan.brady@gov.sk