Earlier this week, Citizenship and Immigration and Canada (CIC) and Member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora Lois Brown announced that the Canadian government is investing $19.7-million to establish four new Welcome Centres for immigrants in the Ontario region of York.

The centres, slated to open in the summer of 2010, will offer newcomers settlement services such as job search workshops, language classes and specific programs for immigrant youth and older newcomers.

Between 2001 and 2006, more than 46,000 immigrants settled in the York Region, which is close to Toronto, and the area continues to be a popular destination for newcomers to Canada.