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Dhalla speaks in Parliament on behalf of Brampton Settlement Agencies slated to lose funding
Brampton, Ontario, Jan 16, 2011
Candice Debi
Thousands of Bramptonians will be left without the necessary services due to the decision by the Conservative Government to cut a number of settlement programs across Brampton and the GTA.
Despite the increased number of new immigrants coming to Brampton and challenging economic conditions, federal funding for language, counselling, mentoring and job training to help new Canadians integrate and support themselves was cut by $53 million in December.
One organization in particular that will suffer significantly from these cuts by the Conservative Government is the “We Welcome the World Centres” which operate within schools across the Peel District School Board and is staffed by teachers from the Board.
Despite helping over thousands of families in its first 18 months of opening the “We Welcome The World Centres” will lose nearly half of its operating budget.
Today Dr. Dhalla rose in the House of Commons to hold the Government accountable for their actions which will hurt Brampton families stating: “Within the first 18 months the “We Welcome The World Centres” opened, they helped service over 4,400 families. Currently Citizenship and Immigration has indicated they will cut nearly half of the operating budget of the centres—totalling over 1 million dollars, which will take effect on March 31st 2011. For the sake of Brampton families and all Canadians who are dependent upon these services, I join Bramptonians in demanding the government reverse these cuts” said Dhalla.
33 organizations will have their funding completely cut, while dozens of organizations will have anywhere from 8%-50% of their settlement programs slashed. African Community Services of Peel, Canadian Hate Prevention Network, Social Planning Council of Peel, Big Brothers and Sisters of Peel, are some of the agencies that serve Bramptonians that will lose their funding.
“The decision by the Conservative Government to cut funding for essential services for newcomers will leave Brampton without the resources and tools they need to succeed. The We Welcome the World Centres in particular play an integral role in the lives of new comer families by assisting both parents and children with orientations into the school system, resources for health care coverage, immunization, documentation as well as adult learning and job training. It is unfortunate that the Conservative Government is leaving the vulnerable out in the cold” said Dhalla.
Recently, GTA Liberal MPs joined many community leaders and members of settlement service organizations to launch the FAIR START-Let New Canadians Succeed campaign to urge the Conservative government to reverse the cuts. The multifaceted Campaign includes an aggressive letter writing campaign to Prime Minister Harper, and Immigration Minister Jason Kenny. Interested members of the public are urged to join the campaign by visiting www.rewindthecuts.ca<http://www.rewindthecuts.ca/>
“Without these services, Brampton families will suffer. I am committed to joining my fellow Bramptonians and all Canadians to speak up and demand the Conservative government rewind the cuts. Bramptonians deserve a Government that is fair, compassionate and caring” said Dhalla
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