Tories Increase Immigrant Settlement Funds

Canada's acute skills shortage has persuaded the federal government to increase its funding for immigrant settlement outside Quebec by $307 million over the next two years. Speaking in Vancouver Friday, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Monte Solberg announced the new funds, 75 per cent of which are slated for Ontario under a pre-existing agreement. British Columbia's portion, which will be administered by the province, will be $38.5 million over the next two years. "We have labour market needs that have to be met," Solberg said. "Any policy changes that we want to make are going to be ones (that) make sure we attract more immigrants, year after year after year, to help us with our labour market needs." The new funds will be spread over this fiscal year and next, with B.C.'s settlement funding increasing to $63.3 million in 2006/07, and to $75.4 million in 2007/08. That represents an increase of almost 90 per cent over last year's funding, which was $40.4 million.