Immigrants to Canada get Federal Support to learn Language

Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander has recently announced a new scheme to help immigrants to Calgary, Canada. As part of the scheme, immigrants will get federal support to help them learn new languages, which will help them to successfully find employment and to become a part of their new community.

Not being able to speak the language when you move to a country can make your move an extremely isolating time as new immigrants who can’t speak English or French well enough are likely to find it difficult to find employment, and they are also likely to struggle to make new friends.

Learning the language will also help a newcomer to integrate better with others in the community, which is why the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister believes it is important the newcomers have access to learning a new language once they have made the move to Canada.

In a news release, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander said:

“By giving immigrants the tools they need to succeed, we are helping to build a stronger community and a stronger economy.”

“Study after study confirms that being able to speak English or French is key to ensuring newcomers to Canada can contribute more fully and provide for their families more quickly.”

Studies carried out in recent years suggest that literacy skills play an important role in the wage gap that exists between some Canadian residents and some immigrants. Studies have also shown that the majority of employers cited inadequate language skills as one of the major reasons as to why new immigrants find it difficult to find work. Studies have also highlighted the fact that immigrants to Canada who cannot speak the language are likely to earn less.

The federal support will be worth over $16 million over a three year period and the funding will be used to help provide language training to more than 1,000 new immigrants. The funding will allow the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada or LINC, to continue to offer courses to new immigrants to Canada.