The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is leading the fight against the federal government who cut $44 million from 35 community agencies that help new Canadians get job ready in Ontario just before Christmas. The Canadian government has cut $53 million accross Canada.

According to Hoskins, ten Toronto based agencies recieved a letter from the federal government telling them they would not get any funding. Another 35 are facing cuts.

“These agencies serve the immigrant communnities by helping them settle in,” said Hoskins, adding, “The languages being helped include Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, Tamil, Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Amharic, Tagalog, Spanish and others.” (Not Estonians.)

Many of these agencies criticized the federal government when as choosing immigrants on the basis of Canada's needs, rather than openly.

These cuts are in addition to $207 million which the the federal government promised Ontario's newcomers under the Canada Ontario Immigration Agreement which it has failed to spend. Federal Citizenship and Immigration Minister the Honourable Jason Kenney is redistributing the funding because many immigrants are settling in other provinces.

"Federal cuts mean Ontario immigrants will not get their fair share," said Hoskins. Quebec receives $5,011 while Ontario only gets $3,248 to help each immigrant.

Ontario’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Hoskins wants to meet with Kenney with hopes he will reverse his decision.

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