National Initiatives

ELT Communiqué

June 2004 The Enhanced Language Training Information Update

Enhanced Language Training

In 2003–04, Citizenship and Immigration Canada received $5 million a year to work with partners on a cost-sharing basis to develop and deliver labour market levels of language training for adult immigrants. An additional $15 million a year was allocated in the 2004 federal budget.

CIC will continue to manage the ELT initiative with the $5 million yearly allocation until the new funds are received.

ELT projects include development and delivery activities that will provide adult immigrants with:

• language training at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels 7–10;
• job-specific language training;
• language training at CLB levels 1–10 in some small centres; and
• bridge-to-work assistance, including mentoring, work placement and other assistance in accessing the labour market.

Note: Please refer to the December 2003 issue for more information.

ELT Partnerships with Provinces and Territories

CIC signed agreements with Manitoba, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory for the development and delivery of ELT projects in 2003–04. The Department also had cost-sharing memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia.

In 2004–05, CIC plans to sign new agreements with British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Yukon Territory for the development and delivery of ELT projects, as well as cost-sharing MOUs with Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia.

2003–04 Funded Projects

In 2003–04, through cost-sharing partnerships with provinces, territories, non-governmental organizations, learning institutions and service provider organizations, the ELT initiative funded projects across Canada, including:

• 16 projects in British Columbia;
• 1 project in Yukon;
• 2 projects in Alberta;
• 13 projects in Manitoba;
• 6 projects in Ontario;
• 1 project in Nova Scotia; and
• 3 national projects.

For a complete list and description of each project, visit integration-net.ca.

2004–05 Call for Proposals

A call for development and delivery projects was posted at integration-net.ca and http://www.settlement.org. The revised deadline for submissions was March 19, 2004. CIC received 57 proposals in total and is currently in the process of assessing them with the multi-stakeholder committee. The 2004–05 projects are expected to begin in June and July 2004.

CIC and the province of Alberta issued a joint call for proposals with a submission date of April 16, 2004. The call for proposals was posted at integration-net.ca. CIC and the Alberta Government will jointly review and select projects for funding for fiscal year 2004–05.

Funded Projects Working Group

The ELT Funded Projects Working Group has had three teleconferences to date, with the next one scheduled in June. The purpose of the group is to share information, best practices and lessons learned, and to move the initiative forward. CIC will invite newly funded organizations to join the Working Group.

Upcoming Activities

General ELT questions and answers will soon be made available at integration-net.ca. The questions are compiled from e-mails received through elt-clna@cic.gc.ca.

ELT Communiqué is produced by the Special Initiatives and Outreach Division of the Integration Branch, CIC. For further information on the Enhanced Language Training initiative, please contact elt-clna@cic.gc.ca, or visit http://integration-net.ca