McGuinty Government Providing Assistance to Canadians Returning from Lebanon

     TORONTO, July 21 /CNW/ - Ontario is welcoming home Canadians evacuated

from Lebanon and making sure they have access to public health care and

immediate housing and other emergency services such as food and shelter,

Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle announced today.

     "This large-scale evacuation of Canadian citizens from another country is

unprecedented," said Colle. "We are determined to help ease their transition

back into Ontario."

     The McGuinty government has taken immediate steps to ensure that

Canadians returning from the Middle East get the help they need. The

government has:

       - Announced that it will provide $200,000 in assistance to help

         Lebanese people who require humanitarian assistance

       - Ensured that evacuees returning to Ontario have access to public

         healthcare services by exempting them from the mandatory three-month

         waiting period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage

       - Established 1-866-255-2292, a provincial phone line that offers

         emotional support to people returning from Lebanon

       - Arranged for the Arab Community Centre of Toronto, a newcomer

         settlement agency funded by the Ontario government, to provide

         immediate settlement, referral and transitional services to people

         who need them.

       - Has also mobilized 79 settlement agencies it funded by the province

         to ensure they are prepared to serve an increase in clients over the

         coming weeks, if needed.

     "Within hours of the planes landing, the Ontario Government took

immediate action to provide real help to those in need," said Dr. Marie

Bountrogianni Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

     Minister Bountrogianni and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Khalil Ramal, were on site to greet

passengers and help guide them to areas where they may require assistance.

     "Although many Lebanese Canadians are returning under unfortunate

circumstances," said Ramal. "Ontario is welcoming them home and we will do

what we can to support them during this difficult time."

For further information: Contacts: Rick Byun, Minister's Office, Ministry of

Citizenship and Immigration, (416) 325-3460; Sarah Charuk, Minister's Office,

Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs, (416) 212-7234; Karen Ras,  

Communications Branch, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, (416)

314-7012; Jennifer Lang, Communications Branch, Ministry of Intergovernmental

Affairs, (416) 212-4965; www.citizenship.gov.on.ca