Ontario pledges more support for Syrian Refugees

Ontario continues to welcome and support Syrian refugees as they settle and build new lives in the province.

Since the first airplane of refugees from the Syrian conflict touched down in Ontario one year ago this week, more than 14,000 refugees have found safety and a new start in the province, with the support of the provincial government, municipalities, community service providers, sponsors and volunteers. 

Ontario was an early leader in the resettlement effort, receiving more than 40 per cent of refugee arrivals to Canada. “The investments that we are making now will ensure that refugees are in the best position to succeed in future,” Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Laura Albanese said. Those refugees have been settling into their new lives with the help of language training, employment training, school enrolment and are already giving back to their communities through volunteerism . 

Moving forward, the province continues to support refugee families, through provincially funded refugee service providers. To date: 

• More than 5,500 adults have received language assessments and are currently participating in free language training.
• Over 4,600 children have been registered in Ontario schools. The province is working with school boards to ensure refugee students have the resources and supports to succeed.
• Sponsorship training, volunteer matching and mentoring programs are providing refugees with practical support, social connections and employment leads.
• A Refugee HealthLine is connecting refugees with local health care providers.
• A network of community services is supporting at-risk children and youth. 

Canada re-settled more than 25,000 refugees between November 2015, and February, 2016.  The province expects to resettle 18,000 refugees by the end of this year