Thank you.
FIrst of all, with respect to language training, according to the main estimates, about $100 million was spent on language training across the country last year. This year it will be $181 million. It's an $81 million increase, which is a very large increase, with respect to language instruction for newcomers.
We're also providing funding for enhanced language training, which is relatively new language training. It gives immigrants language training by using the vocabulary they would use in their professions. In the past it has been one of the key barriers to people working in their professions and realizing the outcomes they want to achieve.
We think this is really important, and we think it's an important step forward. After years of having had settlement funding frozen and language training frozen for newcomers, it will be a substantial step forward. We think it will help a lot of people.
Yes, there are standards that different settlement agencies have to meet. They are asked to prepare reports to indicate how they're spending the money that is given to them, in most cases, from the federal government through the province or, in the case of Ontario, directly from the federal government.
If they meet those standards, the money continues to flow. If concerns are raised with those settlement agencies, they are told what we expect of them in terms of reporting and the usual standards, the accounting standards that need to be met and performance standards. We want to see these groups demonstrate that they're actually getting results.
The good news is that some of the most dedicated people in this country are people who work in settlement agencies. For every dollar we give them, I would say that in general we get three dollars worth of value. They are committed at a heart level, and they're doing a tremendous job.
I applaud them. Most of us would never work for the wages they work for to do that job. They really deserve our thanks and our praise.