Petition to save EESE

CIL works with many partners and service providers in Manitoba to help our clients. Alastair Clarke regularly gives guest lectures to students at UofW, Robson Hall and he has helped students at the Enhanced English Skills for Employment (EESE) in Winnipeg. This is a valuable program for newcomers so they can understand how things work in Canada and, of course, so they can improve their English skills. As you can read from Alastair’s bio, he was an ESL teacher in Japan for many years so this program is close to his heart.

We encourage you to sign this petition to support EESE and similar programs. As stated by EESE:

The federal government has decided to cut funding for Enhanced English Skills for Employment (EESE) and similar programs serving newcomers with Canadian Language Benchmark levels 5-8.

If this decision is not reversed, EESE will close on March 31, 2025, leaving hundreds of newcomers without critical resources for language education, integration and employment.

This decision will affect many newcomers to Manitoba. These classes help students learn many aspects of Canadian culture, not just English skills.

As described in the petition:

Petition to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Whereas:

• Enhanced English Skills for Employment (EESE) has been instrumental in helping newcomers gain essential language skills and a deep understanding of Canadian workplace culture, enabling them to succeed in their new communities and workplace;
• The decision to close EESE on March 31, 2025, will leave hundreds of newcomers without access to critical education and support for integration and employment.

We urge you to support EESE and hopefully the Minister will rethink this decision.