For Immediate Release

August 16, 2005

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT FUNDS SERVICES TO HELP VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

$105,849 investment in Kingston and District Immigrant Services To Provide Language Interpreter Services For Victims

KINGSTON – Kingston and District Immigrant Services is one of ten organizations across the province that the Ontario government is funding to help victims of domestic violence who have limited proficiency in English, announced MPP John Gerretsen on behalf of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle.

“We are breaking down language barriers to provide non-English speaking victims of domestic violence with access to the services they need,” said Colle. “The Language Interpreter Services program is the only one of its kind in all of Canada.”

The Kingston and District Immigrant Services (KDIS) provides assistance to immigrants and refugees in Kingston and the surrounding area so that newcomers can more readily participate in the economic, cultural and social life of their new community. KDIS also assists shelters, social, legal and health care services and the Domestic Violence Court system (including the hospital-based domestic violence projects) in Napanee, Cornwall, Belleville, Picton, Pembroke, Brockville, Perth, L’Orignal, Kingston, Peterborough, Lindsay and Cobourg.

“Today’s announcement means that non-English speaking Kingston residents who experience domestic violence will have the tools they need to receive the support services they require,” said Gerretsen. “Our government is committed to building strong communities and a strong Ontario.”

Reinforcing the McGuinty government’s Domestic Violence Action Plan, the $1.9 million investment in Language Interpreter Services program for 2005-06 will help victims of domestic violence gain better access to shelters, legal and social services, and health care.

The Domestic Violence Action Plan includes enhanced counseling and housing supports for victims, more training for frontline workers, improvements to the justice system and an innovative public education campaign.

“This investment supports our Domestic Violence Action Plan, which helps mobilize communities to address domestic violence,” said Minister of Women’s Issues Sandra Pupatello. “By working together, we can better protect victims of domestic violence and reduce domestic violence in Ontario over the long term.”

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