Province boosts funding to help newcomers

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This article was published 25/04/2022 (1238 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A major investment from the province will go toward the Newcomer Community Integration Support program in Manitoba as $5.1 million will be made available to assist 15 organizations in the integration of newcomers.

Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes said as refugees from Ukraine begin to arrive in the province, the investment will help build a network of services and a community of care supports for all newcomers across Manitoba.

“This investment also aligns with the Economic Growth Action Plan and the Skills, Talent and Knowledge Strategy to ensure newcomers are able to participate fully in the community and contribute to a growing economy,” Reyes said.

Earlier this year, the province issued a call for applications to service delivery organizations that directly support newcomers, drive labour market attachment and contribute toward economic growth in the province.

Reyes said the funding process ensures a range of settlement providers can apply for government support for their projects.

Manitoba Start is set to receive $3 million in funding to provide services that connect newcomers to settlement, orientation, language and employment services. The other $2.1 million is being put toward 14 organizations for settlement projects across the province, including Westman Immigrant Services (WIS) here in Brandon.

Hannah Holt, the community outreach manager for WIS, said they are very excited to have the opportunity to partner with the provincial government. She said the funding that is sent to WIS will be able to help expand the work they do for newcomers, including improving their employment department that provides support to people applying for jobs in the community.

“With this new provincial funding, we’re basically opening the doors wide open and saying we’re here to help everybody which is extremely exciting and something we’ve been wanting for quite some time,” Holt said.

She said the funding could not come at a better time as the organization anticipates the arrival of Ukrainian refugees to the community fleeing the conflict overseas.

Holt acknowledged the province is particularly focused on economic growth and said additional funding will benefit their ability to serve international students studying at Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College and temporary foreign workers.

She said there is an increasing number of temporary foreign workers in WIS’ regional communities in Russell, Cartwright, and Virden in addition to some in Brandon.

“This allows us to help them right from the day that they land instead of the day they become a permanent resident,” Holt said.

“We’ll be able to help them with retention options, what is your settlement plan? We can help them through all of that and that is massive.”

It’s an opportunity to expand their services and encompass all newcomers in the city until they become a citizen.

The province noted that Supporting Employment and Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (SEED) was approved for their Recognition Counts program, which provides supports to skilled immigrants wishing to work in their fields of expertise or alternative career in Manitoba.

The Manitoba government expects approximately 6,000 newcomers along with their families and communities are anticipated to benefit from these projects, which help support newcomers as they settle into the community and accelerate their integration into the province.

Reyes said these projects provide integration services for all newcomers, including skilled workers with temporary work permits and international students with study permits who are normally eligible for federal settlement supports, similar to what Holt noted for WIS.

“The Manitoba government recognizes that immigration is a key priority for the province, particularly as we recover from the pandemic,” Reyes said.

“Settlement services that support the meaningful integration of newcomers help drive our economy by supporting stronger and longer-term economic attachment and newcomer retention.”

The other 13 organizations set to benefit from the $2.1 million allocated include:

• Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities

• Family Dynamics

• Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba Inc.

• Immigrant Centre Manitoba Inc.

• Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council Inc.

• Mosaic Newcomer Family Resource Network Incorporated

• Newcomers Employment and Education Development Services Inc.

• North West Regional Immigrant Services Inc.

• Portage Learning and Literacy Centre Inc.

• Regional Connections Immigrant Services

• Société de la francophonie manitobaine (SFM)

• Steinbach Chamber of Commerce

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