Strong Women Mean a Strong Canada: Guergis

CORNWALL, ON, April 8 /CNW Telbec/ - On behalf of the Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State (Status of Women), Mr. Guy Lauzon, Member of Parliament for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, today announced Government of Canada support for a new project that will promote job and workplace skills for vulnerable immigrant women in the Cornwall area.

The investment in the Cornwall and District Immigrant Services Agency's 18-month project, From Learning to Earning Women (FLEW) - A Program for Immigrant Women by Women, will address the shortage of skills training available in the Cornwall region to immigrant women who lack Canadian work experience.

"Lack of skills training and Canadian work experience are real barriers that can prevent women who are newcomers to Canada from participating in Canadian society," Minister of State Guergis said. "This project will provide focused workshops to 30 immigrant women on financial literacy, workplace terminology, job searching, business start-up, and technical and interpersonal skills. At the end of the program, participants will have the tools to enter the job market and secure their financial futures."

Funding for this project totaling $81,060 is allocated by the Government of Canada from the Women's Community Fund of Status of Women Canada. To qualify, projects must work to promote the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.

"This promising new project is especially important because it addresses a unique group of vulnerable women who have, until now, struggled to achieve economic security and social integration in their new community," said Mr. Lauzon.

"We are pleased to have the support of the Government of Canada for this project, which will reach out to the many immigrant women in our community who would like to work but whose lack of Canadian experience puts them at a disadvantage," said Ms. Dawn Kiddell, Chair of the Cornwall and District Immigrant Services Agency. "Through access to knowledge, mentorship and community support services, participants will begin to achieve their employment goals."

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For news releases and information on Status of Women Canada, go to www.swc-cfc.gc.ca.

For further information: Jonas Langille, Special Assistant, Communications, Office of the Minister of State (Status of Women), [phone]; Nanci-Jean Waugh, Director General, Communications and Strategic Planning, Status of Women Canada, [phone]