Immigration Integration Project in Asia - Colleges Key in Supporting Future Immigrants

Ottawa, May 24, 2007 - By providing additional overseas support to approved immigrants to Canada, the Government is complementing and strengthening existing pilot services provided by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) to future immigrants in China, India and the Philippines.

Canadian colleges and institutes are extensively involved in providing language and skills training as well as bridging and other related services to new immigrants in Canada. This in-country experience has extended overseas to Delhi, Manila and Guangzhou where the new Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP) field offices, funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada, provide labour market information sessions, individual counseling and planning, and referrals to a wide range of services available in Canada which help newcomers integrate into the labour market as effectively as possible. 

ACCC welcomes the three new services provided by the Government of Canada in the area of information sharing for future immigrants; path-finding and referral services overseas; and, capacity building within Canada.

“With over 500 approved immigrants to Canada accessing the services offered by the project since January 2007, the Canadian Immigration Integration Project has been hailed as innovative and a key contribution to the success and workforce integration of new Canadians upon their arrival. The Government’s commitment to deepening these types of forward-looking services and directing future steps based on the success of the project are indicative of the fundamental need to fully integrate new Canadians into our society,” said Gerald Brown, President, ACCC.

ACCC is the national and international voice of 150 public, post-secondary colleges and institutes of technology and advanced learning in Canada. For more information on ACCC visit www.accc.ca and for information on the CIIP visit http://ciip.accc.ca

- 30 -

Contact:

Katrina Murray
Project Director
Canadian Immigration Integration Project
Association of Canadian Community Colleges
Tel.: (613) 746-2222 ext. 3148
http://ciip.accc.ca

(Download PDF version)