Questions and Answers
Enhanced Language Training
1. What is Enhanced Language Training initiative?
The Enhanced Language Training (ELT) initiative was launched in 2003-04 to provide higher levels of language training (Canadian Language Benchmarks [CLB] 7-10), including job-specific language training in Canada's two official languages. ELT will also provide bridge-to-work assistance, including mentoring, work placement and other assistance in accessing the labour market.
ELT will help immigrants and refugees reach their potential and acquire a sense of belonging by enabling them to participate fully and effectively in Canada's social, economic, cultural and political life. The initiative will help immigrants find and keep jobs they are qualified for more easily and quickly.
2. What training will be provided under ELT?
This initiative will provide:
- Higher levels of language training, including job-specific language training (CLB/SLC 7-10 English or French) to enable immigrants to find and retain jobs commensurate with their qualifications and skills;
- Delivery of CLB/SLC levels 1-10 English or French in some smaller centres [1] without the language training infrastructure (specifically the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program) and
- Bridge-to-work opportunities such as work placements, mentoring, cultural orientation to the workplace, preparation for licensure exams and internships for eligible clients.
3. Why do immigrants need language training?
About 29 percent of immigrant aged 15 or older do not speak English or French when they arrive in Canada.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) helps new immigrants to better integrate into Canadian society, through the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada Program (LINC). CIC provides an average of $95 million each year for the management and delivery of basic language training to an estimated 50,000 legal school-leaving age adult immigrants outside Quebec. LINC training is provided from levels 1 to 5 and up to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7. ELT provides higher levels of language training (CLB levels 7-10), job-specific language training and bridge-to-work assistance, including mentoring and work placement designed to help newcomers enter and remain in the labour market in positions that are commensurate with their experience and skills.
4. What level of demand is there for labour market language training?
It is estimated that approximately 45,000 adult immigrants require labour market levels of language training to reach their labour market potential.
5. When will training begin?
A number of small projects started in January 2004. The initiative continues to expand to date. (To see a listing of projects funded since 2003-2004 go to: integration-net.ca).
6. How will the funds be distributed?
Funding for enhanced language training will be based on the project proposals. Projects will be funded through agreements with stakeholders, including provinces, territories, non-governmental organizations, learning institutions, community organizations and employers.
7. Who will deliver the training?
A variety of stakeholders that have experience in the successful delivery of language training services may deliver the projects, including provinces, territories, employers, educational institutions, communities, service provider organizations and non-governmental organizations.
8. Who is eligible to receive ELT training?
Eligible clients are persons of legal school leaving age within their province of residence who are:
- Permanent residents of Canada.
- Protected Persons as defined in Section 95 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Persons in Canada applying to become a Permanent resident and who have been informed, by a letter from Citizenship and Immigration, of the initial approval of the application subject to an admissibility assessment.
Live-In Caregivers under the terms of the Live-In Caregiver Class are not eligible for ELT services.
9. How do immigrants apply for ELT?
ELT projects will be delivered at the local level. Local service provider organizations will advertise those services in their communities. Immigrants are encouraged to speak with settlement service providers who can properly refer them to delivery agencies in their region.
10. What criteria do service providers use to choose participants for ELT?
Local organizations select participants based on an approved prioritization exercise and the client's need for labour market access. Service provider organizations use the ELT eligibility criteria to determine who may participate in the initiative and how participants can benefit from the project and the labour market needs of the local community.
11. How much money has the Government identified for this initiative?
In 2003-04, CIC was allocated $5 million a year to work with partners on a cost-sharing basis to develop and deliver higher levels of language training, including job-specific language training for adult immigrants. An additional $15 million a year was announced in the 2004 federal budget, for a total of $20 million. The additional funds will allow CIC to expand the initiative to reach up to 20,000 immigrants a year over the next five years.
There is a commitment to evaluate the initiative in 2006-2007 and 2009-2010, at which time consideration could be given to assessing program results and future directions for this type of language training.
12. How much money will provinces and territories receive for ELT projects?
Under the ELT Initiative, provincial and territorial funding targets are set according to a formula based on variables such as the average number of immigrants destined to the province/territory, the average cost of language training per person etc.
13. With which provinces and territories has Canada entered into agreements on ELT?
In order to build better partnerships, CIC seeks to enter into cost sharing partnership agreements with provinces and territories across Canada. In 2005-2006 CIC held partnership agreements with the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
14. Why have no projects been funded in Nunavut or the NWT?
CIC is working with officials in all provinces and territories, and representatives of the settlement community in all regions to ensure that applications that meet the criteria are submitted from all provinces and territories.
15. Why is ELT not available in Quebec?
ELT will not be implemented in Quebec as funding for the settlement of immigrants in this province is provided through the Canada-Quebec Accord, which provides that the provincial government is responsible for all integration activities in Quebec. However, CIC will continue to work with the Government of Quebec, as appropriate, to share information and best practices.
16. How do organizations submit proposals for the development or delivery of ELT services?
Currently, the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are coordinating ELT initiatives for their provinces. Stakeholders within these provinces are advised to contact their provincial or territorial governments. In all other provinces and territories except Quebec, interested stakeholders are required to respond to the Call for Proposals from CIC. The Call for Proposals is generally launched annually on integration-net.ca and www.settlement.org
As funding arrangements with provinces/territories may vary from year to year, interested candidates can also check with CIC at: ELT-CLNA@cic.gc.ca or by facsimile at 1-613-952-7416 to find out how they should apply.
17. What is the difference between ELT and Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)?
The essential difference consists of the higher levels (CLB 7-10) and the requirement that ELT initiatives have a mentoring and a job placement component. In addition, LINC was designed to be a generic language training program that provides training without regard to the labour market intentions of the newcomer. ELT is exclusively for newcomers who are imminently destined for the Canadian labour market. ELT shares the support systems that LINC pioneered, such as childminding and transportation allowances that remove gender bias, as well as providing special accommodations for people with disabilities.
18. Why should Canadian taxpayers pay for language training for immigrants?
Immigration currently accounts for more than 70% of net growth in the labour force. It is expected to account for all net labour force growth in the near future and for all population growth within the next 25 years. It is critical that Canada make effective use of the talent and skills of immigrants.
In order to realize the benefits of immigration, the Government of Canada must ensure that the right supports are in place, including the provision of higher levels of language training to enable newcomers to find and retain employment commensurate with their skills and experience.
[1] A small centre is defined as any Canadian city except Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax. Back
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