Equipping Newcomers, Refugees and Immigrants with Skills to Succeed
Ontario is funding free language training for all newcomers and immigrants in the province to help people get jobs, pursue an education and adjust to life in Ontario.
This investment will deliver free language assessment and training courses that help newcomers, refugees and immigrants settle in Ontario.
Ontario's language training program for immigrants is the largest in Canada. Language assessment and classes are provided through both the public and Catholic school boards to about 70,000 immigrants every year.
Quick Facts
The province is investing up to $60 million this year in Ontario’s Adult Non-Credit Language Training Program.
Immigrants access language courses through their local CLARS (Co-ordinated Language Assessment and Referral System) Centre. Their language skills are assessed and they are referred to the most suitable training location available.
Over 4,000 English as a second language and French as a second language (ESL/FSL) courses are delivered across Ontario in more than 325 locations.
English and French as a second language courses are offered tuition-free. Some courses may include minimal fees for books and other course materials.
As of the end of August, 2016, there have been about 2,040 refugees from the Syrian conflict who have been enrolled in Ontario’s Language Training Programs.