New Bridge Training Investment Means Better Opportunities For Newcomers

     TORONTO, May 18 /CNW/ - The Ontario government is investing almost

$14 million in 24 new programs to help more than 3,000 skilled newcomers work

in their field sooner, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle

announced today.

     "We're committed to giving all Ontarians a fair shot at success - that's

why we're investing in these bridge training programs," said Colle. "We're

helping more internationally trained professionals work in their field.

Newcomers have the drive, the skill and the experience that gives Ontario

companies an economic advantage."

     The 24 new bridge training programs include accounting, carpentry, and

physiotherapy. At today's launch, the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario

received $515,600 in funding over two years to develop curriculum to help more

internationally trained physiotherapists pass their licensing exam. The new

bridging program for physiotherapists will help as many as 200 newcomers work

in their field.

     "We expect this project will improve the examination pass rate for the

internationally trained by at least 50 per cent," said Jan Robinson, Registrar

of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. "The barrier for many isn't

knowledge, but how to successfully complete the exams."

     Since 2003 the Ontario government has invested over $34 million in more

than 60 bridge training programs, helping more than 6,000 newcomers improve

their language skills, prepare for exams and work in their field sooner.

     This investment in bridge training is just one of the ways the McGuinty

government is helping newcomers. Other initiatives include:

     -  Fighting on behalf of newcomers, negotiating the first ever

        Canada-Ontario immigration agreement, which quadruples federal funding

        for language training and settlement programs to $920 million over

        five years.

     -  Doubling the number of training and assessment positions for

        internationally trained medical graduates.

     -  Creating Ontarioimmigration.ca that provides up-to-date information

        for newcomers on everything from Ontario communities to working in

        professions and trades.

     "Ontario's economy depends on the wealth of experience of skilled

newcomers," said Colle. "The sooner newcomers put their talents and experience

to work, the sooner Ontario benefits."